St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy

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

Part of ST RALPH SHERWIN CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

Lowry Drive, Marple Bridge, Stockport, SK6 5BR

0161 427 7498 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 5 December 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths73%England 62% · 2024/25
26th highest of 72 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 72% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils222Room for 250 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 237 in 2019, 242 in 2021, 238 in 2022, 233 in 2023, 224 in 2024, 222 in 2025, 222 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.027 for 28 places, September 2026
41st highest of 73 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 44% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 December 2023.

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 attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

81 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Stockport comparisons use the 42 of its 75 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 33 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 schoolStockportEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 1st highest of 42 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stockport.
Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 95% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 13th highest of 42 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stockport.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 94% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 7th highest of 42 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stockport.
Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 90% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 22 parents whose child had been bullied
12th highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stockport.
Higher than 49% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
55% 51% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 54 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 16th highest of 42 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stockport.
Higher than 55% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 81% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 11th highest of 42 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stockport.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94%said yes 90% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Stockport figures pool parents at the Stockport 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

30 pupils in this year group.

73% — 7 points above the Stockport average, and 11 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolStockportEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 73% 66% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 13% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 83% 80% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 83% 74% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 87% 79% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 107 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 106 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 70%This school 2023/24: 73%This school 2024/25: 73% This school England 62% 2022/23 70% 2023/24 73% 2024/25 73%

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 Stockport. 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 offered28
Families who put it first27
Of those, offered a place27 (100%)
Families who listed it at all72

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Stockport

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolStockportEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
63rd highest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 5% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
5.5% 20.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
66th highest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.4% 3.5%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
73rd highest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 2% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
5.0% 13.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
54th highest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.3% 14.7%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 14th lowest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 94% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.4% 4.6%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
22nd lowest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 84% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.2% 11.1%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 1.2 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 0.6% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
21st highest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 78% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
23.1 21.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 22nd highest of 75 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
13.1 11.5 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
40th highest of 74 state primary schools in Stockport.
Higher than 40% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
9.9% 11.7%* 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's Catholic Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?

St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 December 2023.

How did St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy?

94% of the 81 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 27 families put St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 28 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 27 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.