St Mary's Catholic Primary School

About St Mary's Catholic Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Swindon holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent inspections, including an ungraded visit in 2024 where inspectors confirmed that standards were being maintained. The most telling academic metric for this primary school is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which stands at 77%. That figure places the school comfortably above the Swindon local authority average of 62%, and it ranks 10th out of 51 primary schools in the area, putting it in the top 25% locally. The school also performs well on individual subjects: 91% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 107, while reading and writing both saw 85% of pupils hitting the expected mark. At the higher standard, 30% achieved greater depth in maths and 36% in reading, though the combined higher score across all three subjects drops to 8%.

Ofsted’s graded inspection in 2019 rated leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all as Good. The school’s exam results from the 2023/24 academic year show a strong performance relative to its peers, ranking 193rd out of 1,469 primary schools in the South West region, which places it in the top 14% regionally. Nationally, it sits 2,286th out of 13,686 schools, or the top 17%. The Parent View survey, based on 57 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, reflects high levels of satisfaction: 95% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 93% would recommend it to other parents. Notably, 72% strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 75% strongly agreed that their child feels safe.

The school has a Roman Catholic character and offers nursery provision for children aged two, with a total capacity of 410 pupils and currently 409 on roll. It is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 83 applications for 46 places, with 44 first-preference offers made. Facilities include a gymnasium, art studios, an ICT suite, playing fields, a library, music rooms, and a chapel. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and visual impairment, though the Parent View data on SEND support is mixed: 50% strongly agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, but 30% strongly disagreed. With a low free school meals rate of 8.3%, St Mary’s suits families who prioritise strong academic outcomes within a faith-based setting and who are comfortable with a competitive admissions process.

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