St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping

About St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Chipping is a small village primary with a distinctly local feel, currently operating well below its capacity. With 46 pupils against a school capacity of 70, it has room to grow, yet demand is notably high: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 17 applications for just 7 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.43. Only 5 of those applications were first-preference, suggesting many families are listing it as a strong second choice. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.4%, which is above the national average for primary schools (around 13-14%) and indicates a slightly more disadvantaged intake than the typical state primary. As a Roman Catholic school, its admissions criteria will prioritise faith families, but the oversubscription means even some of those may miss out. The school is mixed, takes children from age 3 (with nursery provision) through to 11, and sits in the Ribble Valley borough of Lancashire.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, confirmed in its most recent ungraded inspection in July 2022, which noted the school remains Good. Its previous graded inspection in January 2014 also awarded Good overall, with leadership and management and early years provision both rated Good. The school's historical data shows it was previously rated Outstanding in December 2010, but that grade was not renewed. For parents focused on Key Stage 2 outcomes, the local authority average for primary schools is 60% reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, though St Mary's specific KS2 results are not provided in this data. The school does not have a sixth form, as it is primary-only. With no official ranking score among its peers, it is not among the top-performing primaries in Lancashire, but its Good rating and oversubscription suggest it is well-regarded locally.

Facilities are strong for a school of this size, including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, music rooms, a sensory room, an ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports offered include swimming, football, cricket, gymnastics and cross country, while clubs cover science, gardening, drama and eco activities. The school has specific SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulty, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder, which will appeal to families with children needing targeted support. Oversubscription means early application is essential, particularly for Catholic families who will have priority under the admissions criteria. This school suits families who want a small, faith-based primary with strong facilities and a rural setting, but who are comfortable with a slightly higher-than-average FSM intake and a Good rather than Outstanding Ofsted rating. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary, Brabins Endowed School, is just 0.2 km away, so local parents have a high-performing alternative nearby.

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