SchoolScoresSt Mary's Catholic Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Part of BOSCO CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Cobden Road, Worthing, BN11 4BD
01903 234115 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 October 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 8 May 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
41 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Worthing comparisons use the 13 of its 24 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 11 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 | Worthing | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Worthing. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Worthing. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 11th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Worthing. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 92% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 7th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Worthing. Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 28 parents who had raised a concern 11th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Worthing. Higher than 45% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 86% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Worthing. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 94% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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. Worthing figures pool parents at the Worthing 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.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
26 pupils in this year group.
54% — 6 points below the West Sussex average, and 8 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 54% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 12% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 88% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 62% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 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 West Sussex. 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 offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 41 |
| Of those, offered a place | 28 (68%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 86 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 2.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.4
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 | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.7% | 15.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.1% | 14.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 33.5% | 14.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 20th lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 17% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 22nd lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 14% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.9% | 11.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 15th lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 39% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 60% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 69% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.2 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 14th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 11.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 22nd highest of 23 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 23% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 12.8%* | 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
- Heene CofE Primary School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Homefield Primary School and SSC 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Springfield Infant School and Nursery 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Broadwater CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elm Grove Primary School, Worthing 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whytemead Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thomas A Becket Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thomas A Becket Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024
- Downsbrook Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 strong · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bramber Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 October 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 May 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Mary's Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 54% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Mary's Catholic Primary School?
100% of the 41 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Mary's Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 41 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 28 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 144401.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.