Schools by area › Bolton › St Mary's RC Primary School
St Mary's RC Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 5–11 · Voluntary aided
Victoria Road, Horwich, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6EP · st-marys-horwich.bolton.sch.uk · 01204 333625
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2020
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 56%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Bolton 64%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 214
- 98% of 218 places
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Free school meals
- 15%
- First language not English
- 6.1%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 30 families put the school first and 29 places were offered; 87% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 29 | 30 | 1▲ | 87% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 29 | 33 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 30 | 36 | 1.2▲ | 78% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 30 | 28 | 0.9 | 96% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 56% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 6% the higher standard. Across Bolton it was 64%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼56% | 62% | ||
| ●6% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
St Mary's RC Primary School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 3 March 2020, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in Mar 2025 found: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 11 Mar 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2020Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Feb 2009Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding Nov 2005Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (65 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 88%
- Replies
- 65
- 30% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 83% who raised concerns
based on the 38% who had a child bullied
based on 17 parents (26%) with SEND