St Mary's Catholic Primary School

About St Mary's Catholic Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Gosport is a school that local families clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 32 applications for just 20 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.6. Of those 32 applicants, 19 put the school as their first preference, and all 19 were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation among parents in the area, though the school does not publish a parent-view recommendation percentage to back that up directly. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, with Alison Ternan as headteacher. It currently has 209 pupils on roll against a capacity of 270, so there is some physical room to grow. A notable proportion of pupils — 34.9 per cent — are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average and gives a sense of the community it serves.

Academically, St Mary's presents a mixed picture. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all received Good grades. However, early years provision was rated Requires Improvement, which is worth noting for parents of younger children. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, just 38 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well below the Hampshire local authority average of 61 per cent. Reading scores were stronger, with 69 per cent reaching the expected standard and an average score of 102, but maths was weaker at 45 per cent expected and an average score of 99. Only 3 per cent of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50 per cent of primaries.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a Forest School, library, music rooms, playing fields, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, athletics, netball, dance, football and cricket, while clubs include coding, eco club and gardening. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication difficulties. St Mary's is a faith school with a Roman Catholic character, so it will suit families who want that religious context in their child's education. Given the oversubscription, applying early and as a first preference is advisable. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form, so it is purely a primary option for children from reception through Year 6.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents