St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester
83%
Capacity
371
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester
St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester is a popular choice among local families, with 75 first-preference applications for just 60 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.68. The school received 161 total applications for those 60 spots, making it clearly oversubscribed. While the Parent View data isn't included here, the high demand alone signals strong parent confidence. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision available. It has 371 pupils on roll against a capacity of 446, so there is some headroom. Just under a fifth of pupils (18.6%) are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average and suggests a genuinely inclusive intake.
Academically, St Mary's was rated Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a significant upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2014. Inspectors gave top marks across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the local authority average of 57%. The school's average scores in reading (106) and maths (105) are both slightly above the national benchmark of 100. However, only 15% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, and the school ranks 45th out of 122 primary schools in Manchester on the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom half of the LA.
The school offers a strong range of facilities including art studios, a gymnasium, ICT suite, sensory room, sports hall, music rooms, forest school and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, gymnastics, cricket, rounders and dance, while clubs include drama, choir and gardening. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. This makes it a practical choice for families who want a faith-based primary with strong Ofsted outcomes and a genuinely inclusive ethos, though the oversubscription means early application is essential. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Cringle Brook Primary School, 0.6 km away, so families in the area have strong local options.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Clare Road, Manchester, Manchester, M19 2QW |
| Headteacher | Joanne O'Mullane Mrs Tracey Collins |
| Local Authority | Manchester |
| Number of Pupils | 371 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.6% |
| School Capacity | 371 / 446 (83% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 May 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jun 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (61%)
7440th of 13,686
Nationally
1057th of 2,065
In North West
45th of 122
In Manchester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
61%
Expected Standard
15%
Higher Standard
'22/23
55%
'23/24
61%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed60
161
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
75 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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 British53.1%
- Mixed13.9%
- Asian12.4%
- White (other)4.3%
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.
17
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
14
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Clare Road, Manchester
Manchester, M19 2QW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at St Mary's RC Primary School Manchester!
Write a Review