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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 112353

St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Whitehaven · CA28 9PG

Ages 3–11 · 195 pupils · Cumberland

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

KS2 expected (RWM)

78%

Overall absence

4.5%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-05-07

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
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 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)78%
Higher standard (RWM)15%
Avg scaled score — reading
108.0
Avg scaled score — maths
105.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
105.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence4.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)8.2%
Unauthorised1.5%
Authorised absence
3.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
159

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary 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

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

18

Places offered

18

1st-preference offers

18

Total preferences (any rank)
31
Preferred offers (top 3)
18
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

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 fill108%

195 pupils · 180 places

Pupils on roll
195
Boys / girls
100 / 95
School capacity
180
Capacity fill
195 / 180 (108%)
Free school meals
23.1%
FSM pupils
42
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Lancaster
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mrs Susan Starkie

Location

Address
High Road, Kells
Postcode
CA28 9PG
Town
Whitehaven
County
Cumbria
Local authority
Cumberland
District
Cumberland
Constituency
Whitehaven and Workington
Urban/rural
Urban: Further from 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 voluntary aided school (primary), Ages 3–11, in Whitehaven, Cumberland, 195 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery. Free school meals: 23.1%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Lancaster.

Open schools in Whitehaven
17
Primary schools in Whitehaven
14
Academies among open schools in Whitehaven
12% (2)
Open schools in CA28
17
Primary in CA28
14
Open schools in Cumberland LA
181
Primary in Cumberland LA
146

Nearby primary schools

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

Compare with theseAll in WhitehavenNear CA28

  • Kells Infant School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 9PQ · Cumberland

    Ages 3–7

    • Absence5.4%
    • FSM11.5%
    • Demand1.00

    0.1 miles away

  • Monkwray Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 9DT · Cumberland

    Ages 7–11

    • KS244%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM36.7%

    0.5 miles away

  • St Begh's Catholic Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 7TE · Cumberland

    Ages 7–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM35.4%

    0.9 miles away

  • Valley Primary School and Nursery

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 8DA · Cumberland

    Ages 3–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence6.6%
    • FSM38.1%
    • Demand1.00

    1.1 miles away

  • St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 7PZ · Cumberland

    Ages 3–7

    • Absence3.5%
    • FSM12.5%
    • Demand0.95

    1.3 miles away

  • Jericho Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 6UX · Cumberland

    Ages 4–11

    • KS289%
    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM10.5%
    • Demand1.00

    1.3 miles away

  • St James' CofE Junior School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 7HG · Cumberland

    Ages 7–11

    • KS275%
    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM14.1%

    1.3 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Susan Starkie
Telephone
0194666356
Website
www.kells-stmarys.cumbria.sch.uk/

Official links