St Mary's Catholic Primary School
About St Mary's Catholic Primary School
St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Cumberland is a state-funded primary that serves a notably diverse intake. With 215 pupils on roll against a capacity of 236, it operates slightly below its maximum, leaving some room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 44.7%, which is significantly higher than the national average of around 23% and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 25 applications for 15 places, with all 15 first-preference applicants receiving offers. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.67, meaning the school is popular but not wildly oversubscribed. As a Roman Catholic school, it will prioritise children from practising Catholic families, though the admissions data suggests most local families who put it first do get in. The school also offers nursery provision for children from age two, which may appeal to working parents looking for continuity through to Year 6.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Nov 2022Source: Ofsted, 18 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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