Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #21 in Hertfordshire public Top 5% UK

St Mary's Catholic School

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

personHead not listed

corporate_fareST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST

location_onBishop's Stortford, CM23 2NQ

language Visit Website phone 1279654901

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

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Students

1,158

trending_up

Attainment 8

57.6

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GCSE Rank

#22 in Hertfordshire

#336 of 3,216 nationally

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St Mary's Catholic School is a Academy converter secondary school in Bishop's Stortford, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

St Mary's Catholic School is an academy converter in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,121 pupils on roll, of whom 10% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 57.6, placing the school #22 in Hertfordshire and #336 of 3,216 nationally. 65.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 31.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 22 A-level subjects. 41.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 13.5% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.28 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

57.6

Grade 5+ E&M

65.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)31.8%

Entering EBacc67.60%

EBacc APS5.33

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.43

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66.70%

EBacc APS4.96

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc72%

EBacc APS5.02

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.32

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc72%

EBacc APS5.29

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)98%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.28

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.8%

Achieving A*–A13.5%

Achieving A*–B41.5%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate96.1%

A-level subjects offered22

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.16

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate98.00%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate91.90%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate95.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 October 2024

Inspection Report

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09 September 2021

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-08

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

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2012-10-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2007-10-17

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

1.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.2%(14 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,121 pupils. During this period, there were 18 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,121	18	1.6%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,119	26	2.3%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,146	25	2.2%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,153	17	1.5%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,147	38	3.3%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,159	19	1.6%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,158	19	1.6%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,154	20	1.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,143	13	1.1%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,151	10	0.9%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,143	10	0.9%	4.4%	0

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

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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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 35 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 16 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 15 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 8 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/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.

88.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree35%

agree40%

disagree12%

strongly disagree8%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree42%

agree31%

disagree20%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree27%

agree29%

disagree17%

strongly disagree9%

don't know3%

not applicable15%

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

yes16%

no84%

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

strongly agree17%

agree29%

disagree29%

strongly disagree17%

dont know8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree46%

agree35%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree41%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree39%

agree38%

disagree17%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree35%

agree45%

disagree13%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree48%

agree48%

disagree1%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree28%

agree42%

disagree16%

strongly disagree8%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes75%

no25%

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Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary 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 Secondary Schools in Hertfordshire

Dame Alice Owen's School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Parmiter's School

St Clement Danes School

Sandringham School