SchoolScoresSt Mary's Catholic School, Penzance
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Part of PLYMOUTH CAST
Peverell Road, Penzance, TR18 2AT
01736 330005 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 October 2018.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 11 December 2024: 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
21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Penzance comparisons use the 8 of its 19 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 | Penzance | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 14% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 91% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 16 parents who had raised a concern 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 27% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 86% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Penzance. Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81%said yes | 91% | 84% |
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. Penzance figures pool parents at the Penzance 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
24 pupils in this year group.
63% — 3 points above the Cornwall average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 63% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 67% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 71% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 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 Cornwall. 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 | 14 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 13 |
| Of those, offered a place | 13 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 26 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 | Cornwall | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 93% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 53.0% | 22.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.2% | 3.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 97% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 29.6% | 15.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.4% | 4.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 1% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.2% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 2% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 29.2% | 12.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 15th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 10% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.8 | 3.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Lower than 3% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 21% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.7 | 20.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 12th highest of 19 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 21% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.0 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 12 state primary schools in Penzance. Higher than 93% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 34.2% | 15.2%* | 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
- Pensans Community Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gulval School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Heamoor Community Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2021 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Alverton Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Madron Daniel CofE (VA) School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Newlyn School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Trythall Community Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 100% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ludgvan School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mousehole School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 92% 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 School, Penzance's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 October 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 11 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance?
81% of the 21 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance as their first choice for 14 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 13 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 140778.
- 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.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.