SchoolScoresSt Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Buller Avenue, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 9QQ
01772 742351 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 14 May 2024.
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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Preston (Lancashire) comparisons use the 20 of its 124 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 104 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Preston (Lancashire) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 12th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 32% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 90% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 13th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 29% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 91% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 51% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 86% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 23 parents who had raised a concern 12th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 38% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 79% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 15th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 20% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80%said yes | 88% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 13%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Preston (Lancashire) figures pool parents at the Preston (Lancashire) schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
31 pupils in this year group.
65% — 5 points above the Lancashire average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 81% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 74% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 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 Lancashire. 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 16 |
| Of those, offered a place | 16 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 51 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 78th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.7% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 38th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support Joint 72nd highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.5% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 34th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.2% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 20th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 22nd lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 93rd lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Lower than 19% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.2 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 96th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Lower than 18% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 95th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 31% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.0 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 71st highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 48% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.6 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 36th highest of 107 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire). Higher than 72% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 19.6% | 12.9%* | 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
- Penwortham Middleforth CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Stephen's CofE School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kingsfold Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 30% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cop Lane CofE Primary School, Penwortham 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Penwortham Broad Oak Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Imam Muhammad Zakariya School 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Frenchwood Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, Preston 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitefield Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Penwortham, St Teresa's Catholic Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 May 2024.
How did St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School?
80% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 16 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 16 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 119638.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 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.