Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #322 in Lancashire public Top 78% UK

St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School

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

personMr Daniel Ballard

location_onPreston, PR5 6TA

language Visit Website phone 1772336650

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

288

school

Expected Standard

52%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Preston, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 78% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

St Mary's and St Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Preston, Lancashire, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 267 pupils on roll, of whom 28% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 52% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #322 of 444 primaries in Lancashire and #11,213 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.6 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

52%

LA 59%

Reading72% LA 73%

Writing74% LA 69%

Maths67% LA 72%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

36%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading67% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing67% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths51% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

39%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading51% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing61% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths49% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.9

Read

LA -0.2

-5.8 to -2.1

-0.2

Write

LA 0.1

-2.0 to 1.6

-4.7

Maths

LA -0.3

-6.4 to -2.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

65%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading74% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing74% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths84% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.0

Read

LA -0.2

-1.9 to 1.9

-0.7

Write

LA 0.1

-2.5 to 1.1

0.7

Maths

LA -0.2

-1.0 to 2.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 65%

Reading62% LA 76%

Writing76% LA 78%

Maths64% LA 75%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.8

Read

LA 0.1

-3.7 to 0.1

0.2

Write

LA 0.1

-1.6 to 2

-0.8

Maths

LA 0.0

-2.5 to 0.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 January 2025

Inspection Report

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17 January 2023

Inspection Report

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21 September 2017

Inspection Report

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24 April 2013

Inspection Report

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09 July 2012

Inspection Report

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14 July 2011

Inspection Report

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05 June 2008

Inspection Report

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23 May 2005

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-01-14

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 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

2023-01-17

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-09-21

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-04-24

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-07-14

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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 267 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, 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)	267	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	266	14	5.3%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	281	6	2.1%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	276	1	0.4%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	272	4	1.5%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	291	24	8.2%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	288	10	3.5%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	286	3	1.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	293	6	2.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	292	10	3.4%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	292	6	2.1%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	301	3	1.0%	0.4%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	300	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	291	4	1.4%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	299	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	299	1	0.3%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	295	3	1.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	297	5	1.7%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	295	1	0.3%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	297	2	0.7%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	295	1	0.3%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	298	4	1.3%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	290	1	0.3%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	298	4	1.3%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	300	4	1.3%	0.4%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	299	6	2.0%	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

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 4 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 3 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 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.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

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

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree28%

agree48%

disagree20%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree36%

agree24%

disagree24%

strongly disagree12%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree32%

agree36%

disagree8%

strongly disagree8%

not applicable16%

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 agree36%

agree48%

disagree8%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree44%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree36%

agree40%

disagree20%

strongly disagree4%

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

strongly agree36%

agree48%

don't know16%

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

strongly agree44%

agree40%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree40%

agree32%

disagree24%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes72%

no28%

Top Primary Schools in Lancashire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Stanah Primary School

Good

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emoji_events #1 in LA

Helmshore Primary School

Good

location_on Rossendale, BB4 4JW

emoji_events #2 in LA

Lomeshaye Junior School

Good

location_on Nelson, BB9 7SY

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Preston

Good

location_on Preston, PR1 6HQ

emoji_events #4 in LA

Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Burnley, BB12 0BN

emoji_events #5 in LA

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall

Good

location_on Rossendale, BB4 8SU

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Lancashire 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 Lancashire

Stanah Primary School

Helmshore Primary School

Lomeshaye Junior School

St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Preston

Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall