St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bodmin
Bodmin, PL31 1LW · Cornwall · primary school
Check the area around this school
86th of 218 primary schools in Cornwall we can score, 236 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 — 5.7/10 against 2,617 of them, against 4.9/10 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 | 60.0 · 39 | 40% | 1.56 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 10.0 · 66 | 25% | 1.65 |
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 Primary School, Bodmin overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 60.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, 10.0% achieved it against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2025. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join cooking, lego, games, drawing, art, Forest School, and gardening clubs, alongside football, netball, multi-sports, athletics, and alternative sports. Breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 239 pupils against a stated capacity of 240. 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 Forest School club integrate with the main curriculum? What support is available for pupils who do not reach the expected standard?
What Ofsted said about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bodmin
Overview
St Mary's Catholic Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school provides a happy and supportive environment where staff put pupils at the heart of everything they do, fostering highly positive relationships with parents and carers. Pupils thrive on high expectations and are well prepared for life beyond the school through diverse opportunities and strong pastoral care.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ambitious and has been refined since the last inspection, giving children in the early years a "wonderful start" and preparing them well for key stage 1.
- Staff use effective teaching strategies, including probing questions and targeted feedback, to help pupils address misconceptions and deepen their understanding.
- The approach to teaching early reading is "highly effective," with well-trained staff providing precise support that has resulted in high outcomes in phonics screening.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified early and receive timely support to access the same curriculum as their peers.
- The school promotes positive behaviour and attendance through effective systems, while also prioritising staff workload and well-being, resulting in high morale.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must ensure work fully extends pupils' learning, as some tasks are currently too easy and do not challenge those already secure in their knowledge.
- Systems for pupils to revisit and recall previous learning need to be established across the curriculum to help them build on prior knowledge effectively.
Safeguarding
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 | 61% |
| 2023/24 | 68% |
| 2024/25 | 60% |
| 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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