Schools by area › Cumberland › St Mary's Catholic Primary School
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Voluntary aided
High Road, Kells, Whitehaven CA28 9PG · kells-stmarys.cumbria.sch.uk · 0194666356
On the mapSearch near CA28 9PG
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2025
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 76%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Cumberland 56%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 195
- 15 over 180 places · 108%
- Local authority
- Cumberland
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 23.1%
- First language not English
- 12.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 20 families put the school first and 21 places were offered; 100% 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 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 76% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 12% the higher standard. Across Cumberland it was 56%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲76% | 62% | ||
| ▲12% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▲109 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Mary's Catholic Primary School on 7 May 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 7 May 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Mar 2014
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2014Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Jun 2009Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
100% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (59 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 100%
- Replies
- 59
- 31% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 54% who raised concerns
based on the 22% who had a child bullied