St Mary's Catholic Academy
Blackpool, FY3 7EQ · Blackpool · secondary school
3rd of 7 secondary schools in Blackpool we can score, 8 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 2.0/10 against 582 of them, against 1.4/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.79 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 28.8 · 15 | 30% | 0.44 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.7 · 8 | 25% | 0.21 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 41.5 · 28 | 10% | 0.28 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 28.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.7 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2022.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join Baking, Chess, and Gardening Clubs, or participate in Athletics, Basketball, and Cricket. Arts options include the School Choir and Shakespeare Club. Trips include a visit to the Opal Coast. An after-school club is available.
Getting in. The school has 1184 pupils in a capacity of 1199, leaving 15 spare places. The school is close to full, so places are likely to be competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from lower baselines? How accessible is the after-school club for families needing wraparound care?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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