Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #138 in Suffolk public Top 58% UK

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School

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

personMrs Abigail Goddard

corporate_fareST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onLowestoft, NR33 0DG

language Visit Website phone 1502565384

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

192

school

Expected Standard

61%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Lowestoft, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 58% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School is an academy converter in Lowestoft, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 175 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #138 of 225 primaries in Suffolk and #10,120 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. 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 1.0× 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 5.2 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

61%

LA 57%

Reading71% LA 73%

Writing71% LA 68%

Maths75% LA 69%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

55%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading74% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing71% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths68% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

24%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading45% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing41% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths55% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.4

Read

LA 0.0

-5.8 to -1.1

-6.0

Write

LA -0.4

-8.2 to -3.7

-3.3

Maths

LA -0.6

-5.5 to -1.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 61%England 65%

Reading87% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing90% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths90% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.4

Read

LA -0.6

-1.8 to 2.6

-1.3

Write

LA -0.7

-3.4 to 0.7

-1.4

Maths

LA -1.1

-3.3 to 0.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 60%

Reading97% LA 73%

Writing83% LA 74%

Maths93% LA 71%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.3

Read

LA -0.4

-0.8 to 3.4

-3.4

Write

LA -0.5

-5.5 to -1.3

-0.3

Maths

LA -1.0

-2.2 to 1.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

30 April 2024

Inspection Report

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08 March 2022

Inspection Report

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05 March 2019

Inspection Report

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06 May 2016

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2024-04-30

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-03-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-03-05

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-03-17

S8 No Formal Designation Visit Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-09-22

None EIF

Good

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

6.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.3%(4 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 175 pupils. During this period, there were 11 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.3%, which is above 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)	175	11	6.3%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	173	7	4.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	181	1	0.6%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	189	1	0.5%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	183	3	1.6%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	191	5	2.6%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	192	2	1.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	193	17	8.8%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	191	1	0.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	193	3	1.6%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	189	3	1.6%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	189	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	188	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	194	9	4.6%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	202	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	202	1	0.5%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	205	2	1.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	208	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	207	1	0.5%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	207	3	1.4%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	212	9	4.2%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	211	6	2.8%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	211	1	0.5%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	208	7	3.4%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	209	6	2.9%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	208	2	1.0%	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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 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.

80.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

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

11.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree29%

agree34%

disagree17%

strongly disagree17%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree46%

agree29%

disagree14%

strongly disagree9%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree34%

agree20%

disagree14%

strongly disagree11%

don't know3%

not applicable17%

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

yes34%

no66%

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

strongly agree42%

agree17%

disagree8%

strongly disagree33%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree31%

agree34%

disagree11%

strongly disagree20%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree40%

agree34%

disagree14%

strongly disagree11%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree37%

agree37%

disagree14%

strongly disagree9%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree29%

agree40%

disagree14%

strongly disagree17%

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

strongly agree34%

agree51%

disagree9%

strongly disagree6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree29%

agree34%

disagree23%

strongly disagree14%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes63%

no37%

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Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Lavenham Community Primary School

Good

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Red Oak Primary School

Good

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Woodhall Primary School

Good

location_on Sudbury, CO10 1ST

emoji_events #4 in LA

Abbots Green Primary Academy

Good

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Poplars Community Primary School

Requires improvement

location_on Lowestoft, NR32 4HN

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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 Suffolk

The Albert Pye Community Primary School

Lavenham Community Primary School

Red Oak Primary School

Woodhall Primary School

Abbots Green Primary Academy

Poplars Community Primary School