St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Poole

About St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Poole

St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Poole was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school's strongest academic indicator comes from its Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year, where 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits above the local authority average of 63% for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, placing the school 21st out of 50 primaries in the area and in the top 42% nationally. Average scores in reading (105) and maths (104) are both solid, while 8% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. The school also ranks 474th out of 1,469 primaries in the South West region, putting it comfortably in the top third regionally.

Looking more closely at the breakdown, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading and maths individually, with writing slightly higher at 79%. Higher-standard attainment is strongest in reading at 31%, followed by maths at 20% and writing at 16%. Ofsted's inspection report, published in December 2024, judged leadership and management, early years provision and overall effectiveness all as Good. The ungraded inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards had been maintained. Parent feedback is largely positive: 86% of the 50 respondents would recommend the school, and 96% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. However, only 34% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and 16% disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly, suggesting some room for improvement in communication.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 104 applications for 42 places and 40 first-preference offers made. It serves 401 pupils aged 4 to 11, with 10.7% eligible for free school meals. Facilities include playing fields, a sensory room, a gymnasium, art studios and a chapel. Sports offered are tennis, athletics, cross country, swimming and cricket, while clubs include book, science, art and film clubs. SEND provisions cover social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. Among parents of SEND children, 84% agreed or strongly agreed that the school provides the support needed. This is a Catholic primary that has turned around its Ofsted rating and delivers above-average outcomes, making it a strong choice for local families who prioritise academic standards and a faith-based environment.

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