St Mary's RC High School
111%
Capacity
749
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About St Mary's RC High School
St Mary's RC High School in Herefordshire has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted following its most recent ungraded inspection in December 2024, where inspectors confirmed that standards were being maintained. The school had previously been graded Good in 2013, but its most recent graded inspection in January 2019 awarded it Outstanding overall, with leadership and management also judged Outstanding. The single most informative exam metric for this 11-16 mixed state secondary is its Progress 8 score of 0.1, which places pupils' academic progress above the national average. This score ranks the school 3rd out of 15 secondary schools in Herefordshire, putting it in the top 20% of schools locally. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.22, meaning St Mary's pupils achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject than the typical student in Herefordshire.
Looking deeper at the 2023/24 exam results, St Mary's pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 51.7, which reflects the average grade across eight GCSE subjects. A strong 78% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 62.7% reaching the higher grade 5 threshold. The school's English Baccalaureate average point score sits at 4.66, and 56% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. Progress in maths is notably strong at 0.17, while English progress is slightly below the school average at -0.04. The school's EBacc achievement at grade 4 or above stands at 38%, and at grade 5 or above at 25.3%. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 92% of the 140 respondents would recommend the school, and 94% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. Strong majorities also felt the school has high expectations and that their child does well.
The school is heavily oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 317 applications for 147 places and 176 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.16. It serves 749 pupils against a capacity of 675, and 11.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. St Mary's offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, music rooms, art studios, a chapel, and playing fields. Sports provision includes rugby, football, hockey, tennis, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and Debate to DofE, choir, and orchestra. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer covering dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Parents of SEND children were broadly positive, with 75% agreeing the school gives them the support they need. This is a Catholic school that clearly delivers strong academic outcomes and is highly sought-after by local families.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Lugwardine, Hereford, Herefordshire, County of, HR1 4DR |
| Headteacher | Stuart Wetson |
| Local Authority | Herefordshire, County of |
| Number of Pupils | 749 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.2% |
| School Capacity | 749 / 675 (111% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (11 Dec 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.10)
1310th of 3,141
Nationally
128th of 371
In West Midlands
3rd of 15
In Herefordshire, County of
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 147 pupils).
- Sixth form college65%
- FE college27%
- Employment3%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
140 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed147
317
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
176 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.1%
- White (other)15.1%
- Asian8.8%
- Mixed5.2%
- Black0.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's RC High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Lugwardine, Hereford
Herefordshire, County of, HR1 4DR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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