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St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Burnley, BB12 0JDPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2023
KS2 Results
53%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
12 1st-choice / 15 places
Ranking
#9,933
of 13,686 nationally

About St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School in Burnley is a state-funded voluntary academy with a Roman Catholic character, currently educating 195 pupils against a capacity of 210. That leaves a small amount of headroom, but the school is clearly in high demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 68 applications for just 15 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.53 to one. Only 12 of those applications were first-preference offers, suggesting that while many families want a place, competition is fierce. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 19 per cent, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and reflects the local demographic context of Burnley. The school is mixed-gender and caters for children from age 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth-form provision. Headteacher Bridget Loughran leads a school that, based on its intake figures, clearly serves a community that values its Catholic ethos and its place within the local education landscape.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressWellfield Drive, Burnley, Burnley, BB12 0JD
HeadteacherBridget Loughran
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils195
Free School Meals (FSM)19.0%
School Capacity195 / 210 (93% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 21 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
Sensory RoomLibraryArt StudiosICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

DanceSwimmingCricketGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaFilm ClubChoirChess

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.