Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery
Plymouth, PL5 4LS · Plymouth · primary school
Check the area around this school
66th of 66 primary schools in Plymouth we can score, 69 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.1/10 against 3,846 of them, against 0.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 27.0 · 2 | 62% | 0.12 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 38% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 27.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 281 pupils against a stated capacity of 350. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in core subjects? What specific interventions are in place to help children reach the higher standard? How does the nursery phase transition into Year 1?
What Ofsted said about Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending this school, where they develop confidence through a broad range of clubs and activities. However, the quality of education and leadership require improvement because the curriculum is not fully implemented as intended, leading to inconsistent learning outcomes. While early years provision is strong and behaviour is good, pupils do not yet achieve as well as they should due to insufficiently high expectations and unclear curriculum content in many subjects.
Strengths
- Early years provision is of high quality, providing a "strong start to their learning and development" where children "flourish" and are well prepared for Year 1.
- Behaviour and attitudes are good; pupils "show respect towards adults and one another" and recent policy changes are having a positive impact.
- Phonics teaching is effective, with a "consistent approach" that helps pupils, including those with SEND, read with "confidence and fluency".
- Personal development is good; pupils learn about healthy relationships, understand protected characteristics, and "show respect for these differences".
- The trust has acted swiftly to support the school, with individual learning plans for pupils with SEND now "better tailored to help close gaps".
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure curriculum content is clearly identified so that pupils "build secure knowledge over time" and remember what they have learned.
- The trust must ensure professional development has the necessary impact so staff have the expertise to teach the curriculum "consistently well".
- The school and trust must check with "greater rigour" how well the curriculum is implemented to ensure pupils experience it as intended across all subjects.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 54% |
| 2024/25 | 27% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of PL5 4LS, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT