Classpot

St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School

South Ribble, PR1 9QQPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
May 2024
KS2 Results
67%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
20 1st-choice / 20 places
Ranking
#5,207
of 13,686 nationally

About St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School

St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School in South Ribble is a smaller-than-average state primary, with 191 pupils against a capacity of 210. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.7%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23%, suggesting the school serves a community with slightly lower-than-average economic disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 62 applications for just 20 places, with all 20 first-preference applicants receiving an offer, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.1. This indicates a school that is popular locally, particularly among Catholic families in the area, though its religious character is Roman Catholic. The school also offers nursery provision for children aged three and over, which may be a draw for families looking for continuity from early years through to Year 6.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressBuller Avenue, Preston, South Ribble, PR1 9QQ
HeadteacherClaire McKinnon
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils191
Free School Meals (FSM)14.7%
School Capacity191 / 210 (91% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

14 May 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 27 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
LibrarySports HallGymnasiumOutdoor PlaygroundChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

GymnasticsFootballCricketCross CountryDanceSwimmingTennis

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubCodingChessGardeningScience Club

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

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

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

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School

St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.