Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery

Plymouth · PL5 4LS

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 281 pupils, 17.8% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 19.2% on SEN support Behaviour 5.5% absence rate Staff 24.7% turnover Financials £6,242 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery

General Information

Address: Mary Dean Avenue, Tamerton Foliot, Plymouth, PL5 4LS – View on map
Phone: 01752773521
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Miss Lesa Garside
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 33 families put it first for 34 places – 10 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. 1 of the 34 places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2024 9 · 2025 10 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

281 pupils out of 350 places

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 50
% eligible for free school meals: 17.8%
Pupil mix: 2 in 10 (less mixed than the Plymouth average)
English as an additional language: 5% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 24.7% a year (Plymouth 17.4%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 14% moved to another school, 86% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 2 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. This is a small staff, so one or two teachers leaving moves the figure a lot.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Plymouth: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 1 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 1 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 0 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Plymouth, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 5.5%
Persistently absent pupils: 14.7%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 19.2%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 2.5%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 21 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 13 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 8 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 7 pupils
SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need: 2 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 4 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 2 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2022 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 27% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 0% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 38 percentage points below the Plymouth average (65%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Below (3-year average 49% against an expected 58%)
3-year average (expected standard): 49%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 57% · Writing 41% · Maths 45% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 50%
Average test scores: reading 101, maths 98
Based on: 44 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolPlymouth averageEngland↘ Falling Down 40 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 38 percentage points below the Plymouth average (65%).

Year 6 SATs: 65th of 65 junior and primary schools in the area

#63St Peter's RC Primary School41%
#64Beechwood Primary Academy34%
#65Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery27%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1Glen Park Primary School92%
#2Marine Academy Primary88%
=3Compton CofE Primary School86%
=3Tor Bridge Primary School86%
#5Mayflower Academy84%
#6Chaddlewood Primary School83%
=7Ernesettle Community School82%
=7Pennycross Primary School82%
#9Prince Rock Primary School80%
#10Widey Court Primary School79%
#11Boringdon Primary School78%
=12Elburton Primary School77%
=12Woodford Primary School77%
=14High View School76%
=14Riverside Community Primary School76%
=14Salisbury Road Primary School76%
#17Manadon Vale Primary School74%
=18Hooe Primary Academy73%
=18Knowle Primary School73%
=18St Andrew's Cof E VA Primary School73%
=21Goosewell Primary Academy71%
=21St Edward's CofE Primary School71%
=23Morley Meadow Primary School70%
=23Pilgrim Primary Academy70%
=25Leigham Primary School67%
=25St Peter's CofE Primary School67%
=25Stuart Road Primary Academy67%
=25Yealmpstone Farm Primary School67%
#29Ford Primary School66%
=30St Mary's Priory Junior School65%
=30Stoke Damerel Primary Academy65%
=32Holy Cross Catholic Primary School64%
=32Montpelier Primary School64%
=34High Street Primary Academy63%
=34Pomphlett Primary School63%
=34Widewell Primary Academy63%
=34Woodfield Primary School63%
#38Hyde Park Junior School62%
#39Keyham Barton Catholic Primary School61%
#40St George's CofE Primary Academy60%
=41Eggbuckland Vale Primary School59%
=41Lipson Vale Primary School59%
=41Mount Street Primary School59%
=44College Road Primary School58%
=44Laira Green Primary School58%
#46Morice Town Primary Academy57%
=47Marlborough Primary Academy56%
=47Plympton St Maurice Primary School56%
=47St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School56%
=47Thornbury Primary School56%
#51Drake Primary Academy55%
#52St Matthew's Church of England Primary and Nursery Academy54%
#53St Joseph's Catholic Primary School53%
#54Oreston Community Academy51%
#55Shakespeare Primary School50%
=56Mount Wise Community Primary School49%
=56Oakwood Primary Academy49%
#58The Cathedral School of St Mary47%
=59Austin Farm Academy46%
=59Weston Mill Community Primary Academy46%
#61Victoria Road Primary44%
#62St Budeaux CofE Primary Academy42%
#63St Peter's RC Primary School41%
#64Beechwood Primary Academy34%
#65Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery27%

View full Ofsted inspection report

22nd of 43 primary schools in Plymouth for Ofsted rating

#20Manadon Vale Primary SchoolGood
#21Marlborough Primary AcademyGood
#22Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and NurseryGood
#23Montpelier Primary SchoolGood
#24Morice Town Primary AcademyGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Ernesettle Community SchoolOutstanding
#2Glen Park Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3High View SchoolOutstanding
#4Marine Academy PrimaryOutstanding
#5Mayflower AcademyOutstanding
#6Prince Rock Primary SchoolOutstanding
#7Tor Bridge Primary SchoolOutstanding
#8Austin Farm AcademyGood
#9Beechwood Primary AcademyGood
#10Boringdon Primary SchoolGood
#11Chaddlewood Primary SchoolGood
#12College Road Primary SchoolGood
#13Compton CofE Primary SchoolGood
#14Goosewell Primary AcademyGood
#15High Street Primary AcademyGood
#16Holy Cross Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#17Hooe Primary AcademyGood
#18Keyham Barton Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#19Laira Green Primary SchoolGood
#20Manadon Vale Primary SchoolGood
#21Marlborough Primary AcademyGood
#22Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and NurseryGood
#23Montpelier Primary SchoolGood
#24Morice Town Primary AcademyGood
#25Mount Street Primary SchoolGood
#26Mount Wise Community Primary SchoolGood
#27Oreston Community AcademyGood
#28Pennycross Primary SchoolGood
#29Plympton St Maurice Primary SchoolGood
#30Pomphlett Primary SchoolGood
#31Riverside Community Primary SchoolGood
#32Salisbury Road Primary SchoolGood
#33St Andrew's Cof E VA Primary SchoolGood
#34St Edward's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#35St Matthew's Church of England Primary and Nursery AcademyGood
#36St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#37St Peter's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#38St Peter's RC Primary SchoolGood
#39Victoria Road PrimaryGood
#40Widey Court Primary SchoolGood
#41Woodfield Primary SchoolGood
#42Woodford Primary SchoolGood
#43Yealmpstone Farm Primary SchoolGood

Financials

Spending per pupil: £6,242 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

36th of 63 primary schools in Plymouth for spending per pupil

#34Lipson Vale Primary School£6,287
#35St Peter's CofE Primary School£6,261
#36Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery£6,242
#37Pennycross Primary School£6,192
#38Tor Bridge Primary School£6,169

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1St Budeaux CofE Primary Academy£10,317
#2High Street Primary Academy£9,695
#3St Peter's RC Primary School£9,010
#4Victoria Road Primary£8,839
#5Riverside Community Primary School£8,659
#6Ford Primary School£8,401
#7St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School£8,193
#8Austin Farm Academy£8,077
#9Laira Green Primary School£8,013
#10Mount Wise Community Primary School£7,799
#11Pilgrim Primary Academy£7,729
#12Knowle Primary School£7,679
#13Woodfield Primary School£7,621
#14Weston Mill Community Primary Academy£7,578
#15The Cathedral School of St Mary£7,519
#16Yealmpstone Farm Primary School£7,487
#17Drake Primary Academy£7,433
#18Keyham Barton Catholic Primary School£7,412
#19Marlborough Primary Academy£7,275
#20Eggbuckland Vale Primary School£7,139
#21Morice Town Primary Academy£7,014
#22St Andrew's Cof E VA Primary School£7,013
#23College Road Primary School£6,991
#24Beechwood Primary Academy£6,887
#25Stuart Road Primary Academy£6,823
#26Ernesettle Community School£6,767
#27Mayflower Academy£6,763
#28Thornbury Primary School£6,741
#29Shakespeare Primary School£6,727
#30Oakwood Primary Academy£6,722
#31Mount Street Primary School£6,589
#32High View School£6,418
#33Widewell Primary Academy£6,298
#34Lipson Vale Primary School£6,287
#35St Peter's CofE Primary School£6,261
#36Mary Dean's CofE Primary School and Nursery£6,242
#37Pennycross Primary School£6,192
#38Tor Bridge Primary School£6,169
#39Morley Meadow Primary School£6,106
#40Oreston Community Academy£6,098
#41St Joseph's Catholic Primary School£6,071
#42Leigham Primary School£6,039
#43Prince Rock Primary School£6,032
#44St George's CofE Primary Academy£6,011
#45Holy Cross Catholic Primary School£5,990
#46Hooe Primary Academy£5,947
#47Stoke Damerel Primary Academy£5,910
#48Plympton St Maurice Primary School£5,871
#49Compton CofE Primary School£5,830
#50Manadon Vale Primary School£5,613
#51Boringdon Primary School£5,551
#52Woodford Primary School£5,526
#53Montpelier Primary School£5,512
#54Elburton Primary School£5,508
#55Widey Court Primary School£5,496
#56Pomphlett Primary School£5,467
#57Marine Academy Primary£5,398
#58Glen Park Primary School£5,355
#59Salisbury Road Primary School£5,314
#60Chaddlewood Primary School£5,205
#61St Edward's CofE Primary School£4,877
#62St Matthew's Church of England Primary and Nursery Academy£4,614
#63Goosewell Primary Academy£2,730

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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