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St Matthew's Church of England Primary Academy

Preston, PR1 5XBPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
3 Good · 2 Requires improvement
Jan 2025
KS2 Results
38%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
46 1st-choice / 50 places
Ranking
#12,667
of 13,686 nationally

About St Matthew's Church of England Primary Academy

St Matthew's Church of England Primary Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 115 applications for just 50 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.3. Of those, 46 were first-preference applications, all of which received offers. This level of demand suggests the school holds a strong reputation in the community, though it's worth noting that the most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 judged the overall effectiveness as 'Not judged' due to the inspection being a graded one that focused on specific areas. The school's personal development and behaviour and attitudes were both rated Good, while leadership and management also received a Good rating. However, the quality of education and early years provision were both rated as Requires improvement, which parents will want to weigh against the school's popularity.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressNew Hall Lane, Preston, Preston, PR1 5XB
HeadteacherMark Mackley
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils456
Free School Meals (FSM)28.4%
School Capacity456 / 406 (112% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

14 Jan 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Requires improvement

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 13 Feb 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Playing FieldsLibraryICT SuiteMusic RoomsSensory RoomChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

7

Sports

GymnasticsSwimmingDanceAthletics

Clubs & Activities

DramaChoirChess

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Breakfast club

08:00-08:45

Source: stmatthewspreston.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Matthew's Church of England Primary Academy

St Matthew's Church of England Primary Academy has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.