St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class

Garstang Road, Chipping, Preston, PR3 2QH

0199561367 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card3 expected, 4 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 9 June 2026
Pupils58Room for 70 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 32 in 2019, 35 in 2021, 36 in 2022, 38 in 2023, 40 in 2024, 46 in 2025, 58 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.07 for 7 places, September 2026
Joint 30th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 13 July 2026.

In short: 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.

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 offered7
Families who put it first7
Of those, offered a place7 (100%)
Families who listed it at all27

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 0.7 · 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 Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
67th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
17.4% 25.3%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
19th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.3% 3.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
23.9% 13.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 108th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 16.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
30th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 84% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.9% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
16th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.0% 12.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 2.6 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.07% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
117th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 7% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
14.8 21.1 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
114th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 10% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.0 10.5 10.6

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.

Nearby primary schools

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

Questions parents ask

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

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

Is St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 7 families put St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Chipping as their first choice for 7 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 7 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.