St Mary's Catholic School

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 18

Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding

Windhill, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2NQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St Mary's Catholic School is a secondary school in Bishop's Stortford for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 3rd of 5 secondary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 8 October 2024, report published 11 December 2024

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Sixth form provision: Good
Safeguarding: Met

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

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

185 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score57.6

57.6, 11.5 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths65.9%

65.9%, 20.5 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths89.2%

89.2%, 24.4 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc67.6%

67.6%, 27.1 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score5.33

5.33, 1.24 above the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

86 students

Average point score per A level entry29.34

29.34, 5.66 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,106 pupils on roll, with places for 1,029

Eligible for free school meals9.3%

9.3%, 17.2 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language22.1%

22.1%, 0.5 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support8.2%

8.2%, 6.6 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.2%

1.2%, 4.8 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near St Mary's Catholic School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Bishop's Stortford College	0.3 miles	No Ofsted inspection	Attainment 8: 23.4
Hockerill Anglo-European College	0.7 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 61.7
The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College	0.8 miles	Ofsted: Outstanding	Attainment 8: 63.6
Avanti Grange Secondary School	1 mile	Ofsted judgements: Outstanding	Not published
Birchwood High School	1 mile	Ofsted judgements: Good	Attainment 8: 46.1

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Age range: 11 to 18
Gender: Mixed
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Sixth form: Yes
Headteacher: Headteacher Deirdre McHugh
Phone: 01279654901
Website: stmarys.net (opens in a new tab)
Address: Windhill, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2NQ
Local authority: Hertfordshire
URN: 148499

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.