St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy

About St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy

Parents considering St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy in Stockport will find a school that is clearly popular with local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 71 applications for just 27 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.63, meaning nearly three families applied for every spot. Of those, 26 first-preference families received offers, so if you live close and make it your top choice, your chances are reasonable but not guaranteed. The school's parent-view signals are strong, though the data doesn't include a specific recommend percentage. With 222 pupils on roll against a capacity of 250, there is some headroom, but the high demand suggests a reputation that precedes it. The school is a Roman Catholic voluntary academy, so faith-based admissions criteria will likely apply, and it offers nursery provision for children from age three. The headteacher, John Nish, leads a school that feels both sought-after and community-focused.

Academically, St Mary's performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to a Stockport LA average of 62%. This places the school 19th out of 67 primary schools in the borough, comfortably in the top 25% nationally. In individual subjects, 80% met expectations in both reading and maths, with average scaled scores of 106 in each. The proportion reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 13%, while 40% achieved higher in maths. Ofsted visited in December 2023 and rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and behaviour and attitudes. The previous inspection in 2009 had rated it Outstanding, so the current Good rating reflects a slight dip but still strong performance, particularly in the non-academic areas that matter to parents.

The school offers a solid range of facilities and activities that will appeal to families wanting more than just classroom learning. There is a Forest School, music rooms, a gymnasium, sports hall, art studios, playing fields and an outdoor playground, plus a chapel reflecting its Catholic character. Sports include tennis, football, athletics and cricket, while clubs cover gardening, drama and coding. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disabilities and other difficulties. This breadth suggests a school that can support a range of children. St Mary's is a state primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with no sixth form. It suits families who value a faith-based, academically strong school with a strong sense of community and good facilities, especially those who can meet the Catholic admissions criteria.

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