St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Edlington

About St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Edlington

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Edlington is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, and it’s a school that local families clearly want to get into. With 201 pupils on roll against a capacity of 220, it’s running close to full, and the oversubscription picture tells the same story: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 21 applications for just 13 places, with all 13 first-preference families offered a spot. That’s an oversubscription ratio of 1.62, a solid signal of local demand. The school’s intake is notably more disadvantaged than the national average — 24% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a typical primary figure of around 23% nationally. That context matters when you look at outcomes. The school is Roman Catholic in character, and the headteacher is Bernadette Nesbit. Facilities include a chapel, a sensory room, and a sports hall, and there’s nursery provision on site for the youngest children.

Academically, St Mary’s presents a mixed picture. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2021, the school was rated Good overall, with a standout Outstanding grade for behaviour and attitudes. That’s a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Requires Improvement across the board. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 50% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — below the Doncaster local authority average of 61%. Only 6% reached the higher standard in those three subjects. Individual subject scores were more varied: 72% met the expected standard in writing, compared with 59% in reading and 56% in maths. Average scaled scores were 103 in maths and 102 in reading, both close to the national benchmark of 100. The school ranks 68th out of 87 primaries in Doncaster on the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority.

For families considering St Mary’s, the practical picture is worth weighing up. The school offers a range of SEND provisions, including support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and physical disabilities — so it’s equipped to handle a broad spectrum of additional needs. Facilities are decent for a primary of this size: a library, ICT suite, dining hall, and outdoor playground, plus a sensory room and chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, netball, gymnastics and cricket, and there are clubs for drama, choir and chess. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Hill Top Academy, just 0.6 km away, which may be worth a look for families who prioritise a top Ofsted grade. St Mary’s suits families who value a Catholic ethos, a strong focus on behaviour, and a school that has clearly turned a corner from its previous Requires Improvement rating — but the below-average KS2 results mean it’s not a straightforward academic choice.

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