St Mary's Primary School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 April 2026

Pupils at St Mary’s are proud of their school. Their attendance is high. Pupils are happy, safe and secure. They are welcomed into a caring, inclusive community where they are valued and supported as individuals. From the early years, pupils develop a clear sense of belonging. They experience a nurturing environment where staff take time to understand their needs, interests and personal circumstances. They feel confident to express themselves, knowing that adults will listen and care. The school's work with its wider community plays an important part in pupils’ experience. Families are actively involved in school life, and school events create opportunities for shared celebration and connection. There is a sense of partnership between home and school. Pupils understand their role in the community. They enjoy taking up leadership positions, for example as school councillors. They understand the importance of ‘giving back’ to others, for example through fundraising efforts. Pupils are enthusiastic learners and enjoy coming to school. During social times, they play happily together. The school atmosphere is calm, orderly and purposeful, meaning that learning is rarely disrupted. Staff deal with incidents of any poor behaviour effectively. Bullying is rare and is dealt with, if it occurs. Leaders place the pupils at the centre of everything they do, ensuring that learning and support are adapted so that pupils can succeed and thrive. Any barriers to pupils’ learning or wellbeing are quickly identified so that pupils get the support they need. Most pupils make positive progress from their starting points and achieve well. They are well prepared for the next stage in their education.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should further implement the writing curriculum to ensure that all pupils develop secure writing skills.
• Leaders should ensure further support for teachers to implement the redeveloped curriculum with consistency, to enable pupils to produce high-quality work across different subjects.
• Leaders should develop their strategic oversight and monitoring of provision for disadvantaged pupils so that support is reviewed and adjusted carefully, leading to consistent improvement in pupils’ opportunities and experiences.

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