SchoolScoresSt Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Spring Street, Brighton, BN1 3EF
01273 327533 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 November 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 25 June 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
23 pupils in this year group.
61% — about the same as the Brighton and Hove average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 61% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 78% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 70% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Brighton and Hove. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 9 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 8 |
| Of those, offered a place | 8 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 36 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Brighton and Hove | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 9th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 43.6% | 26.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 12th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 4.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 31st highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.6% | 17.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 69.1% | 18.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 38% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.0% | 13.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 24th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 22% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.7 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Lower than 38% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.7 | 22.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 20th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 60% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 39 state primary schools in Brighton. Higher than 80% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 23.3% | 13.9%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- St Paul's CofE Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Middle Street Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brunswick Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Carlton Hill Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Windlesham School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Stanford Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queen's Park Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 30% met expected standard (KS2)
- Downs Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- St Andrew's CofE (Aided) Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 November 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 25 June 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Is St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 8 families put St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 9 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 8 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 114541.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.