St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class

Part of THE DIOCESE OF WESTMINSTER ACADEMY TRUST

Melbourn Road, Royston, SG8 7DB

01763 246021 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 8 July 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths69%England 62% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 8 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 61% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils227Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 226 in 2019, 232 in 2021, 234 in 2022, 231 in 2023, 234 in 2024, 236 in 2025, 227 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.338 for 30 places, September 2026
1st highest of 14 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 93% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 8 July 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

115 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Royston comparisons use the 10 of its 15 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 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.

StatementThis schoolRoystonEngland
My child is happy at this school
4th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Royston.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 94% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 4th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Royston.
Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 93% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Royston.
Higher than 88% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
99% 89% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 37 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 3rd highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Royston.
Higher than 55% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
57% 53% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 79 parents who had raised a concern
6th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Royston.
Higher than 58% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86% 84% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 21 parents of children with SEND
2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Royston.
Higher than 83% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 76% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 5th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Royston.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94%said yes 91% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 49%). 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. Royston figures pool parents at the Royston 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

29 pupils in this year group.

69% — 5 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 69% 64% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 14% 11% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 83% 79% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 72% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 79% 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 109 107 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 110 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 64%This school 2023/24: 79%This school 2024/25: 69% This school England 62% 2022/23 64% 2023/24 79% 2024/25 69%

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 Hertfordshire. 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered30
Families who put it first38
Of those, offered a place30 (79%)
Families who listed it at all76

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.5 · 2026: 1.3

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Hertfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
13th highest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.7% 17.1%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.2% 3.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
12th highest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
11.0% 14.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
24.2% 21.3%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Lower than 61% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.6% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Lower than 65% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
9.2% 11.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
10th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Lower than 35% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.1 2.9 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
11th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Lower than 32% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.3% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 66% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
21.9 20.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 15 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 51% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.8 10.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 12 state primary schools in Royston.
Higher than 84% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
25.5% 15.7%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 8 July 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School?

94% of the 115 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 38 families put St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 30 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.