St Mary's Catholic Primary School

About St Mary's Catholic Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Thurrock holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, but the detail beneath that headline tells a more interesting story. Inspectors rated behaviour and attitudes as Outstanding, the highest possible mark, while quality of education, early years provision, personal development, and leadership and management all came in at Good. The school's academic performance is particularly striking at Key Stage 2. In the 2023/24 results, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well above the Thurrock local authority average of 67%. That figure places St Mary's second out of 39 primary schools in the borough, and in the top 5% nationally. Reading is a clear strength: every single pupil reached the expected standard, and 60% achieved a higher standard. In maths, 93% hit the expected level, with 37% reaching the higher threshold.

The school's exam results are consistent across the board. Average scaled scores sit at 108 for maths and 110 for reading, both comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. Writing also performs well, with 93% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 30% achieving a higher standard. The previous Ofsted inspection in 2012 also rated the school Good overall, so the school has maintained a solid track record over time. With 228 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is slightly oversubscribed — a sign of its local reputation. For parents looking at the raw data, the combination of strong KS2 outcomes and an Outstanding behaviour rating suggests a school where academic rigour and a positive atmosphere go hand in hand.

St Mary's offers a range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, forest school area, sensory room, and a chapel, reflecting its Roman Catholic character. The school provides nursery provision for children from age three and has a stated set of SEND provisions covering dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health support. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 52 applications for 25 places, with all 25 first-preference applicants offered a spot — meaning oversubscription is a real factor for families considering it. Extra-curricular options include gardening, coding, art, book and eco clubs, plus sports such as football, cricket, swimming and gymnastics. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a faith-based setting, and who are prepared to apply early given the competition for places.

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