Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #74 in Sandwell public Top 91% UK

St Mary Magdalene CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Kelly Duff

location_onWest Bromwich, B71 1RP

language Visit Website phone 1215882371

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

235

school

Expected Standard

42%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.1x

summarize

St Mary Magdalene CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in West Bromwich, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 91% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Mary Magdalene CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled school in West Bromwich, Sandwell, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 232 pupils on roll, of whom 29% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 42% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #74 of 84 primaries in Sandwell and #11,135 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.1 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 60%

Reading71% LA 73%

Writing61% LA 70%

Maths61% LA 72%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

41%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading63% LA 71% · Eng 74%

Writing50% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths56% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 55%England 60%

Reading90% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing61% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths71% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

113

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.8

Read

LA -0.4

2.5 to 7.1

-1.1

Write

LA -0.3

-3.3 to 1.1

0.1

Maths

LA -0.1

-2.1 to 2.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading84% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing72% LA 76% · Eng 78%

Maths84% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

5.5

Read

LA 0.3

3.3 to 7.7

1.7

Write

LA 0.5

-0.4 to 3.7

4.9

Maths

LA 0.5

2.9 to 6.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

77%

LA 60%

Reading87% LA 71%

Writing81% LA 75%

Maths87% LA 72%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.1

Read

LA -0.3

-0.1 to 4.3

-0.1

Write

LA 0.1

-2.2 to 2

Maths

LA 0.1

0 to 4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 November 2024

Inspection Report

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22 January 2014

Inspection Report

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20 March 2012

Inspection Report

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15 February 2011

Inspection Report

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01 October 2008

Inspection Report

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24 September 2007

Inspection Report

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01 November 2005

Inspection Report

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25 September 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-11-12

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2014-01-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2012-03-20

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(1 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 232 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.4%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	232	1	0.4%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	231	4	1.7%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	238	2	0.8%	0.8%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	238	4	1.7%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	237	2	0.8%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	233	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	235	4	1.7%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	230	2	0.9%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	237	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	232	2	0.9%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	225	1	0.4%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	234	2	0.9%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	233	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	226	2	0.9%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	232	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	232	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	228	11	4.8%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	234	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	228	4	1.8%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	226	5	2.2%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	235	1	0.4%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	235	4	1.7%	0.4%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	229	6	2.6%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	242	5	2.1%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	241	5	2.1%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	235	3	1.3%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 8 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

86.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

89.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

6.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree56%

agree32%

disagree3%

strongly disagree6%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree41%

agree38%

disagree12%

strongly disagree9%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree32%

agree21%

disagree6%

strongly disagree12%

not applicable29%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree41%

agree38%

disagree3%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree65%

agree21%

disagree9%

strongly disagree6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree41%

agree47%

disagree3%

strongly disagree9%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree29%

disagree3%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree35%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree35%

agree41%

disagree6%

strongly disagree12%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes82%

no18%

Top Primary Schools in Sandwell

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Good

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Good

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Outstanding

location_on West Bromwich, B71 2ST

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Moat Farm Junior School

Good

location_on Oldbury, B68 9QR

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Corngreaves Academy

Good

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Ocker Hill Academy

Good

location_on Tipton, DY4 0DS

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View all schools in Sandwell arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Sandwell

Timbertree Academy

George Betts Primary Academy

St John Bosco Catholic Primary School

Moat Farm Junior School

Corngreaves Academy

Ocker Hill Academy