St. Mary's Catholic Junior School

About St. Mary's Catholic Junior School

St. Mary's Catholic Junior School in Croydon is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11, and its headline academic metrics sit comfortably above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 results, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Croydon average of 66%. That seven-point gap places the school 29th out of 77 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 25% of schools nationally for this measure. The school is also oversubscribed, with 231 pupils against a capacity of 240, suggesting strong local demand. It holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate judgement in 2015, and its most recent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good. Leadership and management were also graded Good in the 2018 graded inspection.

Digging deeper into the KS2 results, the school performs particularly well in maths, where 85% of pupils met the expected standard and 40% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 108. Reading and writing both saw 77% and 85% reaching the expected standard respectively, though higher-standard attainment in writing was lower at 15%. Reading higher-standard attainment was 38%, and the average reading scaled score was 107. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard across all three subjects was 15%. With 28.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged cohort compared with the national average, yet still outperforms the Croydon LA average on the combined expected standard. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds beyond attainment.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a forest school, chapel, library, ICT suite and art studios, alongside sports such as swimming, gymnastics and athletics. Clubs cover science, coding, gardening, drama and eco activities. SEND provision is broad, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, visual impairment, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health support. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Chestnut Park, 0.8 km away, but St. Mary's own Good rating and above-average results make it a strong choice for Catholic families or those seeking a junior school with a clear academic track record. Its oversubscription suggests applying early is wise. For parents weighing options in Croydon, this school offers reliable attainment without the competition for an Outstanding rating.

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