St Mary and St Andrew's Catholic Primary School, Barton Newsham

About St Mary and St Andrew's Catholic Primary School, Barton Newsham

St Mary and St Andrew's Catholic Primary School in Preston sits in a local authority where the average Key Stage 2 score for primary schools is 60, but the school’s own most recent data isn’t included in the available figures, so it’s not possible to say whether it beats or falls short of that benchmark. What is clear from its Ofsted record is that the school has maintained a Good overall rating across its last two inspections, with the most recent graded inspection in October 2024 confirming Good for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision. The standout grade is Outstanding for personal development, which suggests the school places a strong emphasis on pupils’ character and wellbeing. Compared with its previous inspection in 2019, the early years provision has slipped from Outstanding to Good, but personal development has been newly rated Outstanding, so the school appears to have shifted its focus. With 31 out of 480 primary schools in Lancashire rated Outstanding, St Mary and St Andrew’s sits just below that top tier, but its Good rating with an Outstanding element puts it in a solid position locally.

Academically, the school’s performance is harder to pin down without published Key Stage 2 results or a Progress 8 score, but the Ofsted breakdown offers some clues. The quality of education is rated Good, meaning the curriculum is well-sequenced and pupils generally achieve well. The personal development rating of Outstanding suggests that beyond core subjects, the school is effective at building pupils’ resilience, respect, and understanding of British values. The behaviour and attitudes grade of Good indicates that most pupils behave well and have positive attitudes to learning, though there may be occasional issues. Given the Lancashire average KS2 score of 60, parents might want to ask the school directly for its most recent SATs results to see how its pupils compare. The school has no sixth form and no nursery provision, so it’s a straightforward primary for children aged 5 to 11. The religious character as a Roman Catholic school will appeal to families seeking a faith-based education, though the school is open to all.

The school is relatively small, with a capacity of just 126 pupils, which likely means smaller class sizes and a more intimate feel. Facilities are surprisingly generous for a primary of this size, including an ICT suite, art studios, a sensory room, a sports hall, a gymnasium, and playing fields, plus a chapel. Sports provision is broad, with rounders, tennis, netball, swimming, gymnastics, cricket, and cross country on offer, and clubs include science, film, choir, and coding. The sensory room is a notable asset, suggesting the school is equipped to support pupils with sensory needs or additional learning requirements. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Barton St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, just 1.2 km away, so families in the area have a strong local alternative if they’re aiming for the top Ofsted grade. St Mary and St Andrew’s will suit families who value a Good-rated, faith-based primary with strong personal development, a wide range of facilities, and a small-school atmosphere in the Preston area.

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