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, a Voluntary Academy, sits within the Rochdale local authority, one of 69 primary schools in the area. Among its local peers, the school ranks behind All Souls Church of England Primary School, Hollin Primary School, and Healey Foundation Primary School, which hold the top three spots in the LA. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Kentmere Primary Academy, 2.8 kilometres away. St Mary's itself was last graded Good in a full inspection in 2011, and a subsequent ungraded visit in November 2021 confirmed it remains Good. That 2021 visit noted the school's leadership and management as Good, though early years provision was judged as Requires improvement. The school's headteacher is Carmel Ruane, and it operates as a Roman Catholic voluntary academy for mixed pupils aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site.

Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted report from 2011 rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management also Good. However, the data does not include specific Key Stage 2 SATs results or a Progress 8 score for St Mary's, so it is not possible to compare its attainment directly against the LA average of 58 for KS2. The previous inspection in 2009 rated the school as Requires improvement overall, meaning the 2011 upgrade to Good represents a clear step forward. The early years provision, graded Requires improvement in both the 2009 and 2011 inspections, remains an area of focus, as the 2021 ungraded visit did not change that rating. For parents considering academic outcomes, the lack of recent published exam data means relying on the Ofsted Good rating as the primary indicator of quality.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a dining hall, playing fields, sports hall, art studios, outdoor playground, library, ICT suite, gymnasium, and a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, rounders, swimming, athletics, dance, cross country, and tennis, while clubs include choir, film club, drama, and coding. With a capacity of 210, oversubscription data is not provided, but the school's Good rating and Roman Catholic character may appeal to local Catholic families seeking a faith-based primary. The Requires improvement early years rating is worth noting for parents with children entering nursery or Reception. The school is state-funded and does not have a sixth form, as expected for a primary. It suits families who prioritise a Good-rated, faith-aligned school with a broad extracurricular offer, within the Rochdale area.

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