St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham

About St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham

St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham, is a small Roman Catholic primary in Northumberland that serves pupils from ages 4 to 9. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a solid, consistent rating, though it falls short of the Outstanding grade held by nine other primary schools in the local authority. Where the school does stand out is in its oversubscription figures: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 22 applications for just 13 places, with all 13 first-preference families offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.69 suggests strong local demand, even if the school's headline metrics don't place it among the top-ranked primaries in the area.

Academic outcomes at St Mary's are not available in the form of KS2 SATs scores or a Progress 8 measure for this age range, so it is difficult to compare directly against the Northumberland LA average of 56 for KS2. The school's Ofsted report, however, notes that the quality of education is Good, and the previous inspection in 2011 also awarded an overall Good rating, indicating sustained performance over time. With only 92 pupils on roll against a capacity of 150, the school is operating well below capacity, which may reflect its first-school status (pupils leave at age 9) and the rural catchment area. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 18.5%, which is a meaningful data point for parents considering the school's demographic mix, though without a local average for comparison it is hard to gauge how this sits relative to other Northumberland primaries.

For families, St Mary's offers a distinctive set of facilities including a Forest School, a chapel, music rooms, and a library, alongside a broad sports programme covering gymnastics, swimming, cricket, and tennis. Clubs such as gardening, eco club, and science club add to the offer. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With a headteacher in Sarah Oakes and a clear Roman Catholic character, this school will particularly suit Catholic families in the Hexham area who value a faith-based education and a smaller, community-focused setting. The oversubscription data suggests that securing a place requires a first-preference application, especially given the limited 13 places available.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham

Helpful Guides for Parents