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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 141257

St Mary's Catholic Academy

Academy converter · Blackpool · FY3 7EQ

Ages 11–18 · 1,188 pupils · Blackpool

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

42.0

Overall absence

7.4%

Admissions demand

1.18 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2022-05-10

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.70
−20+2
Attainment 842.0
English & maths grade 5+28%
English & maths grade 4+51%
EBacc entry7%

EBacc APS: 3.3

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)21.8%
Unauthorised2.5%
Authorised absence
5.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.6%
Enrolments in measure
1,105

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.18 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

246

Places offered

208

1st-preference offers

195

Total preferences (any rank)
439
Preferred offers (top 3)
208
Applications from outside LA
37
Offers to outside-LA applicants
6
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill99%

1,188 pupils · 1,199 places

Pupils on roll
1,188
Boys / girls
581 / 607
School capacity
1,199
Capacity fill
1,188 / 1,199 (99%)
Free school meals
35.2%
FSM pupils
373
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Lancaster
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE BLESSED EDWARD BAMBER CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
THE BLESSED EDWARD BAMBER CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Diocese of Lancaster
Headteacher
Simon Eccles

Location

Address
St Walburga's Road
Postcode
FY3 7EQ
Town
Blackpool
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Blackpool
District
Blackpool
Constituency
Blackpool South
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Blackpool, Blackpool, 1,188 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 35.2%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Lancaster.

Open schools in Blackpool
48
Secondary schools in Blackpool
6
Academies among open schools in Blackpool
69% (33)
Open schools in FY3
16
Secondary in FY3
2
Open schools in Blackpool LA
51
Secondary in Blackpool LA
6

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BlackpoolNear FY3

  • Blackpool Aspire Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blackpool · FY3 7LS · Blackpool

    Ages 11–16

    • Att832.1
    • P8-1.3
    • EM5+24%
    • Absence11.6%

    0.7 miles away

  • Baines School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Poulton-le-Fylde · FY6 8BE · Lancashire

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.0
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence9.9%

    1.3 miles away

  • Montgomery Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Blackpool · FY2 0AZ · Blackpool

    Ages 11–16

    • Att835.6
    • P8-0.9
    • EM5+21%
    • Absence9.4%

    2.1 miles away

  • Hodgson Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Poulton-Le-Fylde · FY6 7EU · Lancashire

    Ages 11–16

    • Att847.2
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+47%
    • Absence7.7%

    2.2 miles away

  • South Shore Academy

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blackpool · FY4 2AR · Blackpool

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM67.6%

    2.3 miles away

  • Highfield Leadership Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blackpool · FY4 3JZ · Blackpool

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.4
    • P8-1.0
    • EM5+30%
    • Absence15.9%

    2.7 miles away

  • Millfield School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Thornton-Cleveleys · FY5 5DG · Lancashire

    Ages 11–16

    • Att845.6
    • P8-0.0
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence7.5%

    2.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Simon Eccles
Telephone
01253396286
Website
http://www.st-mary.blackpool.sch.uk

Official links