Schools by area › Lancashire › St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley
St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided
Hornchurch Drive, Chorley PR7 2RJ · chorleystmarys.lancs.sch.uk · 01257 262811
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 59%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Lancashire 60%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 206
- 98% of 210 places
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 6.8%
- First language not English
- 2.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 19 families put the school first and 19 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 | 19 | 19 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 28 | 26 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 20 | 18 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 30 | 36 | 1.2▲ | 78% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 29 | 29 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 6% the higher standard. Across Lancashire it was 60%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼59% | 62% | ||
| ●6% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley on 6 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 6 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jun 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Jun 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Before September 2019
May 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Nov 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (49 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Positive
- 92%
- Replies
- 49
- 24% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 82% who raised concerns
based on 3 parents (6%) whose child was bullied
based on 10 parents (20%) with SEND