St Mary's Catholic Academy
Blackpool, FY3 7EQ · Blackpool · secondary school
Check the area around this school
2nd of 8 secondary schools in Blackpool we can score. 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 — 3.3/10 against 643 of them, against 2.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 34% | 1.79 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 39.4 · 36 | 30% | 1.09 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.7 · 8 | 25% | 0.21 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.2 · 40 | 10% | 0.41 |
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's Catholic Academy overview
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. 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 (1.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in 2022.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Baking, Chess, and Gardening Clubs, or participate in Athletics, Football, and Cricket. The school offers a School Choir, Shakespeare Club, and Duke of Edinburgh Award. Trips include visits to the Opal Coast, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,188 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,199. 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 to close the gap between their Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific strategies are in place to improve Progress 8 scores? How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll
What Ofsted said about St Mary's Catholic Academy
Overview
St Mary’s Catholic Academy is a school where pupils feel “happy and safe” and enjoy coming to learn. Leaders have established a “suitably ambitious curriculum” that supports strong achievement across the board, including for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. The school fosters positive relationships and high expectations for behaviour, resulting in a calm and orderly learning environment.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “polite and well mannered” behaviour, with “positive relationships” and rare use of derogatory language.
- Teachers possess “detailed knowledge” of their subjects and use assessment strategies well to address misconceptions quickly.
- The sixth form receives an “especially strong quality of education,” with many students progressing to university.
- Leaders provide effective support for staff well-being, including efforts to “reduce their workload.”
- Pupils benefit from a “strong programme of personal development,” including careers guidance and education on modern Britain.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must increase the proportion of pupils following the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects, as the current low number “limits the choices that some pupils can make about their future.”
- Leaders should address “gaps in content at key stage 3” in a small number of subjects to ensure the curriculum is “broad and balanced.”
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff remaining vigilant for concerns and pupils learning how to keep safe from risks such as online dangers and knife crime.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.0 |
| 2024/25 | 41.5 |
| 2025/26 | 44.2 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 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
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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