St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 January 2026

Pupils feel safe and appreciated in this warm and welcoming school. Staff care deeply about pupils' wellbeing. This creates a peaceful, focused environment for learning. Pupils trust staff fully to address any concerns or worries they may have. They know exactly who to turn to if they need help, including their peers who act as 'wellbeing ambassadors'. Relationships are supportive and pupils interact positively. This makes bullying unusual. Pupils are certain that if it did occur, staff would take their concerns seriously and resolve them. Pupils enjoy their learning. As a result, they attend school often. Pupils are enthusiastic about discovering new knowledge and developing new skills. The curriculum is carefully structured to help them succeed. Pupils aim to produce the highest quality work. In this tight-knit school community, staff and parents and carers work collaboratively to ensure pupils receive ongoing encouragement with their work. The array of activities that pupils engage with, both inside and outside of school, helps to prepare them effectively for life in modern Britain. The offer includes cultural experiences that broaden their horizons and fosters mutual respect for others. Many activities enrich pupils' overall school experience. For example, they engage in a junior version of the Duke of Edinburgh award or take part in sporting opportunities, such as fencing or judo. Overall, pupils behave well. In lessons, they remain focused on and engaged in their learning. Pupils demonstrate courtesy and consideration towards each other, staff and visitors. From the moment they join the school, pupils are supported by staff to settle in and feel at ease in their classroom. To help pupils reach their potential, the school provides targeted support that successfully removes barriers to learning. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who are disadvantaged. As a result, pupils are well equipped for the next stage of their education.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should make sure that they provide staff with more targeted professional development so that they can respond swiftly and effectively to the school's changing special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND) context. • Leaders should ensure that they embed the new strategies to support pupils' composition, grammar and handwriting development so that it benefits all pupils, including those with SEND.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)