St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Poole
Devon Road, Poole, BH15 3QQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Poole is a primary school in Poole for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 111 schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It ranks 8th of 18 primary schools in Poole. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 30 January 2019, report published 28 February 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 19 November 2024
Pupils enjoy attending this happy and friendly school. Regardless of need or ability, dedicated staff form trusting relationships with pupils. They greet pupils with a smile as they arrive each day. This creates a sense of safety and belonging for pupils, including for those who speak English as an additional language. The school has high aspirations of all pupils, both academically and socially. Pupils live up to these. From their starting points, most achieve well. This is reflected in the outcomes achieved by Year 6 pupils in the 2024 national tests. Pupils behave well and do their best. The school's '8 Bs' guide them in all they do and say. It is commonplace to see pupils 'be kind' by holding doors open for others and 'be peacemakers' by solving disagreements amicably. Staff teach pupils to be proud advocates by using their voices and actions to help others. For example, 'Mini Vinnies' encourage pupils to write prayers of hope and eco-councillors raise environmental awareness. Pupils give back to the community by fundraising for those less fortunate than themselves. All of this contributes positively to the school's values of faith, love and hope.
What the school should improve
- A minority of pupils, including some with SEND, do not master accurate letter formation and pencil grip in their written work. This hinders their ability to write effectively. The trust should ensure there are sufficient opportunities to secure early writing skills so that pupils can improve their writing fluency.
- A few staff do not have the subject expertise to teach the early reading programme with enough precision. This means that some pupils do not develop their phonics knowledge as well as they could. The trust should make sure that all staff who teach pupils to read have the knowledge and skills to use the agreed approaches effectively.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
65 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
379 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Poole
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Academy Poole | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 68% met the expected standard |
| Longfleet Church of England Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 60% met the expected standard |
| Oakdale Junior School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 54% met the expected standard |
| Stanley Green Infant Academy | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Canford Heath Infant School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- PLYMOUTH CAST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Clare Tickel
- Phone
- 01202676207
- Address
- Devon Road, Poole, BH15 3QQ
- Local authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- URN
- 140777
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.