Schools by area › County of Herefordshire › St Mary's RC High School
St Mary's RC High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Voluntary aided
Lugwardine, Hereford HR1 4DR · st-maryshigh.hereford.sch.uk · 01432 850416
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Dec 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 52.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Herefordshire, County of 44.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 745
- 70 over 675 places · 110%
- Local authority
- Herefordshire, County of
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 10.3%
- First language not English
- 27.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 189 families put the school first and 146 places were offered; 76% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 146 | 189 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 147 | 176 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 149 | 195 | 1.3▲ | 75% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 143 | 203 | 1.4▲ | 70% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 147 | 192 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 52.2, and 59.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Herefordshire, County of it was 44.7, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲52.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲59.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲79.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲55.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.73 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sixth form college | 54.7 | −4.5 |
| Further education | 25.3 | −2.6 |
| Other education | 0.7 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 4.7 | +1.3 |
| Employment | 4.7 | +1.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.3 | +2.5 |
| Activity not captured | 2.7 | +2 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 11 December 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for St Mary's RC High School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 10 Dec 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Apr 2021Monitoring visit
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Jan 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Dec 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jul 2007Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (140 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 92%
- Replies
- 140
- 19% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 70% who raised concerns
based on the 38% who had a child bullied
based on 36 parents (26%) with SEND