St Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

About St Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

St Mary's RC Primary School in Burnley is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary that serves 210 pupils, exactly matching its capacity. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated it as Requires Improvement overall, with the same rating for leadership and management and early years provision. This places it below the Lancashire local authority average, where 31 out of 480 primary schools hold an Outstanding rating. The nearest Outstanding-rated school, Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School, is just 1.5 kilometres away. With 41.9 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, St Mary's serves a community with above-average deprivation, and the school's oversubscription figures — 45 applications for 22 places in the 2025/26 intake, with 18 first-preference offers — suggest strong local demand despite the inspection rating.

Academic outcomes data is limited for this school, but the Lancashire local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment is 60 per cent. St Mary's does not have published KS2 SATs results in the available data, so it is not possible to compare its performance directly against this benchmark. The school's previous Ofsted inspection in January 2017 also rated it Requires Improvement overall, with early years provision at grade 2 (Good) at that time. The 2019 inspection saw early years slip to grade 3 (Requires Improvement), while leadership and management remained at grade 3. Without exam results or a Progress 8 score, parents should look to the school's own published performance data or speak directly to the headteacher, Laura Bushell, for the most current academic picture.

St Mary's offers a range of facilities including music rooms, art studios, a library, an outdoor playground, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, tennis, cross country, swimming, gymnastics, cricket and football, while clubs include gardening, drama and science club. The school's SEND provisions are extensive, covering moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability and other difficulties. This makes it a potentially strong choice for families whose children require additional support. The school is oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.05 applications per place, so early application is essential. Given its Catholic character and inclusive SEND offer, St Mary's will particularly suit families seeking a faith-based primary with a strong pastoral focus, though the Requires Improvement rating means parents should investigate recent progress since the 2019 inspection.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents