Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #44 in St. Helens public Top 76% UK

St. Mary's Blackbrook Catholic Primary School

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

personMrs Julia Ashton

location_onSt Helens, WA11 9QY

language Visit Website phone 1744678161

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

421

school

Expected Standard

53%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

St. Mary's Blackbrook Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in St Helens, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 76% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St. Mary's Blackbrook Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in St Helens, St. Helens, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 400 pupils on roll, of whom 37% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #44 of 52 primaries in St. Helens and #10,935 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

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 0.2 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

53%

LA 60%

Reading74% LA 73%

Writing74% LA 73%

Maths62% LA 71%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

37%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading59% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing50% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths48% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

59%

LA 61%England 60%

Reading70% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing63% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths64% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.3

Read

LA 0.3

0.6 to 4.0

0.8

Write

LA 0.3

-0.8 to 2.4

-2.0

Maths

LA 0.0

-3.6 to -0.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading81% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing83% LA 79% · Eng 78%

Maths83% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.0

Read

LA 0.0

1.4 to 4.5

3.2

Write

LA 0.1

1.7 to 4.6

2.0

Maths

LA 0.1

0.6 to 3.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 62%

Reading75% LA 73%

Writing82% LA 78%

Maths66% LA 74%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.6

Read

LA -0.4

-0.9 to 2.1

1.5

Write

LA 0.0

0 to 3

-0.9

Maths

LA -0.6

-2.3 to 0.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 March 2023

Inspection Report

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04 October 2017

Inspection Report

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23 January 2013

Inspection Report

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30 November 2010

Inspection Report

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25 February 2010

Inspection Report

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04 March 2008

Inspection Report

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11 November 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-03-01

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-10-04

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-01-23

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-11-30

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

0.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.2%(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 400 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.5%, 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	400	2	0.5%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	388	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	415	15	3.6%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	409	1	0.2%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	404	3	0.7%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	419	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	421	3	0.7%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	417	4	1.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	438	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	426	1	0.2%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	416	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	430	1	0.2%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	434	1	0.2%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	435	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	443	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	443	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	441	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	448	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	452	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	447	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	452	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	452	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	441	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	410	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	412	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	414	1	0.2%	0.5%

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 33 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 21 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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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.

88.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

88.0%Positive

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

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree43%

agree34%

disagree17%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree54%

agree37%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

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

strongly agree32%

agree29%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

not applicable22%

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

yes22%

no78%

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

strongly agree21%

agree43%

disagree21%

strongly disagree7%

dont know7%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree40%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree40%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree49%

agree42%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree63%

agree34%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree58%

agree32%

disagree6%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree38%

agree35%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes88%

no12%

Top Primary Schools in St. Helens

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Aidan's CofE Primary School Billinge

Requires improvement

location_on Wigan, WN5 7LS

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Prescot, L35 6NN

emoji_events #2 in LA

St Mary & St Thomas CofE Primary School

Outstanding

location_on St Helens, WA10 2HS

emoji_events #3 in LA

St John Vianney Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on St Helens, WA9 5BT

emoji_events #4 in LA

Willow Tree Primary School

Requires improvement

location_on St Helens, WA9 4LZ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School

Good

location_on St Helens, WA10 4NQ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in St. Helens arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

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 St. Helens

St Aidan's CofE Primary School Billinge

St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School

St Mary & St Thomas CofE Primary School

St John Vianney Catholic Primary School

Willow Tree Primary School

Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School