St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
Brighton, BN1 3EF · Brighton and Hove · primary school
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22nd of 42 primary schools in Brighton and Hove we can score, 47 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 — 3.3/10 against 1,785 of them, against 2.9/10 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 | 61.0 · 41 | 40% | 1.65 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 61.0% 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 (3.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Chess, Creative Writing, Art, and Pony Clubs, or play cricket and cycle. A breakfast club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 193 pupils against a stated capacity of 218. 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 not yet meeting the expected standard in maths? What specific activities does the Pony Club involve for young children? How does the breakfast club integrate with the morning routine?
What Ofsted said about St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
Overview
This ungraded inspection confirms that St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school provides a “safe and comforting place” where pupils feel at home and are “full of enthusiasm for learning.” Leaders and governors demonstrate a “highly ambitious, coherent strategy” to sustain the quality of education.
Strengths
- The curriculum places “language, communication and reading at its heart,” particularly benefiting pupils at early stages of learning English.
- Staff are “expertly trained to support pupils with SEND,” adapting resources so they can learn the same curriculum as their peers.
- Pupils benefit from a “broad, high-quality offer of wider opportunities,” including clubs and trips that bring the curriculum to life.
- Consistent routines help pupils feel safe, with attendance improving through initiatives that support families.
- Staff check understanding routinely, identifying misconceptions and giving feedback “straight away” to ensure learning is secure.
Areas to improve
- The school must develop ways of checking “precisely what pupils understand and remember in mathematics” to address gaps and misconceptions.
- Without accurate long-term checks in maths, some pupils “do not progress through the curriculum as securely as they could.”
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 | 23% |
| 2023/24 | 60% |
| 2024/25 | 61% |
| 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
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