St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham
About St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham
St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Whickham is a smaller-than-average primary, with 189 pupils against a capacity of 210. Its intake is notably less disadvantaged than the local area: just 5.8% of pupils qualify for free school meals, compared with a national primary average that typically sits around 23-24%. The school's Roman Catholic character is reflected in its facilities, which include a chapel, and it clearly holds strong appeal for local families. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 56 applications for 28 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2:1. All 27 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning that while the school is popular, families who put it first have a strong chance of success. The school is a state-funded mixed primary for ages 4 to 11, located in the Gateshead local authority area of the North East.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 67 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 May 2025Latest monitoring visit (8 May 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Source: stmaryswhickham.bwcet.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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