St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

About St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Bury stands out against the local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with a score of 64 for the LA average, though the school's own KS2 data is not provided in the available information. What is clear from the data is that the school has made a notable improvement in its Ofsted rating, moving from a Requires Improvement overall effectiveness grade in 2015 to a Good rating in its most recent graded inspection in 2017, a status it has maintained through an ungraded inspection in 2022. This trajectory places it among the majority of Bury's 64 primary schools, where only two hold an Outstanding rating, the nearest being Chantlers Primary School 2.9 kilometres away. With 348 pupils on roll against a capacity of 472, the school is not at full capacity, yet it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 52 applications for 27 places, with all 27 first-preference applicants offered a spot.

Academically, the school's Ofsted breakdown from its 2017 graded inspection shows Good ratings for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision, though the data does not include specific quality of education or personal development grades. The 2022 ungraded inspection confirmed the school remains Good, suggesting consistent standards. The school's Progress 8 score is not available in the data, so direct comparison with the LA average is not possible, but the oversubscription rate of 1.93 indicates strong local demand. The school serves a community with 23.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, slightly above the national average, and its Roman Catholic character may appeal to families seeking a faith-based education. The nursery provision for ages 3-11 offers a continuous primary pathway from early years through Year 6.

For practical considerations, the school boasts a wide range of facilities including a forest school, chapel, art studios, music rooms, and a sports hall, alongside clubs such as drama, film club, and choir. Sports offered include swimming, cross country, rounders, and cricket. The school's SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder, and social and emotional mental health support, making it a potentially good fit for families with children requiring additional support. With 27 places available and oversubscription, early application is advisable, particularly for families prioritising a Catholic primary within Bury. The school's location in the North West region and its mixed gender intake suit a broad range of local families, though those seeking an Outstanding-rated school may need to consider Chantlers Primary 2.9 kilometres away.

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