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St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School

South Ribble, PR5 6TAPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
4 Good · 1 Requires improvement
Jan 2025
KS2 Results
36%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
30 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#12,901
of 13,686 nationally

About St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School

If you're a parent considering St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School in South Ribble, the parent feedback is a mixed bag that warrants a close look. Of the 27 parents who responded to the Ofsted Parent View survey between September 2024 and September 2025, 56% said they would recommend the school, while 44% would not. That split is reflected in the detail: 66% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 93% felt their child is safe. But when it comes to how the school handles concerns, only 41% agreed they are dealt with properly, and 33% disagreed. Behaviour is another sticking point — 60% agreed pupils are well-behaved, but 40% disagreed. On the plus side, 93% of parents agreed their child can take part in clubs and activities, and 85% said there's a good range of subjects. The school is clearly popular: for 2025/26 entry, it received 71 applications for 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.37, with all 30 first-preference applicants offered a spot.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressBrownedge Lane, Preston, South Ribble, PR5 6TA
HeadteacherDaniel Ballard
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils267
Free School Meals (FSM)28.1%
School Capacity267 / 315 (85% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 27 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

14 Jan 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 2 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
ICT SuiteSports HallPlaying FieldsOutdoor PlaygroundMusic RoomsGymnasiumForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

TennisNetballCricketFootballSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubChoirFilm ClubScience ClubEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: smsb.lancs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School

St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman 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.