St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School
Preston, PR1 9QQ · Lancashire · primary school
Check the area around this school
366th of 448 primary schools in Lancashire we can score, 481 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 4,266 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.3/10 among them, against 3.6/10 nationally. 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 | 65.0 · 52 | 40% | 2.07 |
| Ofsted | 3 | 35% | 0.10 |
| 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's Catholic Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 65.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. However, 0.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in June 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.3 out of 10 among them, against 3.6 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 175 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. 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 plan to raise attainment to the higher standard following the 2024 inspection? What specific support is available for pupils who are not yet meeting expected standards? How does the current roll of 175 affect class sizes and individual attention?
What Ofsted said about St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School
Overview
Pupils “thoroughly enjoy attending this happy school” and benefit from “caring relationships” with staff. However, the overall effectiveness requires improvement because curriculum changes are “not fully implemented,” leading to inconsistent learning outcomes. While behaviour and personal development are strong, the quality of education and leadership need strengthening to ensure pupils achieve as well as they should.
Strengths
- Pupils are “polite and respectful” and move around the school in a “calm and orderly manner.”
- The early years provision is good, with children supported well to “settle quickly.”
- Staff deliver the phonics programme well, providing “targeted, timely support” to pupils finding reading difficult.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive “careful adaptations” to access the same learning as their peers.
- Staff well-being is considered, with governors ensuring decisions about the curriculum do not negatively impact workload.
Areas to improve
- The school must finalise the identification and order of key knowledge across all subject curriculums so teachers have clear guidance.
- Subject curriculums must be implemented consistently to enable pupils to “make connections with, and to build on, prior knowledge.”
- Assessment systems must be established in all subjects to check if pupils have learned intended knowledge and to identify gaps in learning.
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 | 43% |
| 2023/24 | 67% |
| 2024/25 | 65% |
| 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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