St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham

Northumberland · NE46 2EE

General information Primary School · 4-9 years Who goes here 81 pupils, 24.7% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 6.2% on SEN support Behaviour 3.7% absence rate Staff 26.4% turnover Financials £8,348 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham

General Information

Address: Hencotes, Hexham, NE46 2EE – View on map
Phone: 01434603791
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Sarah Oakes
Age range: 4-9 years
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

81 pupils out of 150 places Plenty of room

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 20
% eligible for free school meals: 24.7%
Pupil mix: 2 in 10 (more mixed than the Northumberland average)
English as an additional language: 5% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 26.4% a year (Northumberland 14.4%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 0% moved to another school, 100% 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 Northumberland: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 3 (0.1 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 Northumberland, 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: 3.7%
Persistently absent pupils: 6.4%
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: 6.2%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 4.9%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 4 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 3 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 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 2023 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

Year 6 SATs results for this school haven't been added yet.

View full Ofsted inspection report

84th of 103 primary schools in Northumberland for Ofsted rating

#82Ss Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary AcademyGood
#83St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, AshingtonGood
#84St Mary's Catholic First School, HexhamGood
#85St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, PrudhoeGood
#86St Paul's Catholic Primary School, AlnwickGood

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

#1Bothal AcademyOutstanding
#2Croftway AcademyOutstanding
#3Darras Hall Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Haltwhistle Primary AcademyOutstanding
#5Horton Grange Primary SchoolOutstanding
#6Malvin's Close AcademyOutstanding
#7Morpeth Road AcademyOutstanding
#8Acomb First SchoolGood
#9Adderlane AcademyGood
#10Allendale Primary SchoolGood
#11Amble Links Primary SchoolGood
#12Beaconhill Community Primary SchoolGood
#13Bedlington Station Primary SchoolGood
#14Bedlington West End Primary SchoolGood
#15Belford Primary SchoolGood
#16Bellingham Primary SchoolGood
#17Belsay Primary SchoolGood
#18Berwick St Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#19Branton Primary School and NurseryGood
#20Broomhaugh (VA) Church of England First SchoolGood
#21Broomley First SchoolGood
#22Burnside Primary SchoolGood
#23Cambo First SchoolGood
#24Central AcademyGood
#25Chollerton Church of England Aided First SchoolGood
#26Corbridge (VA) Church of England First SchoolGood
#27Cragside CofE Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#28Cramlington Northburn Primary SchoolGood
#29Cramlington Shanklea Primary SchoolGood
#30Ellingham Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#31Ellington Primary SchoolGood
#32Embleton Vincent Edwards Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#33Felton Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#34Glendale Primary School (Prev. Wooler First School)Good
#35Grange View Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#36Greenhaugh Primary SchoolGood
#37Greenhead Church of England Nursery and Primary SchoolGood
#38Harbottle Church of England First SchoolGood
#39Hareside Primary SchoolGood
#40Heddon-on-the-Wall, St Andrew's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#41Henshaw Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#42Hexham First SchoolGood
#43Hipsburn Primary SchoolGood
#44Holy Island Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#45Holy Trinity Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#46Holywell Village First SchoolGood
#47Hugh Joicey Church of England Primary School, FordGood
#48Humshaugh Church of England First SchoolGood
#49King Edwin Primary SchoolGood
#50Longhoughton Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#51Lowick Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#52Meadowdale AcademyGood
#53Mickley First SchoolGood
#54Morpeth First SchoolGood
#55NCEA Bishop's Primary SchoolGood
#56NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary SchoolGood
#57NCEA Thomas Bewick C of E Primary SchoolGood
#58NCEA Warkworth Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#59NCEA William Leech CofE Primary SchoolGood
#60Ncea Harry Hotspur Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#61New Delaval Primary SchoolGood
#62New Hartley First SchoolGood
#63Newsham Primary SchoolGood
#64Otterburn Primary SchoolGood
#65Ovingham Church of England First SchoolGood
#66Pegswood Primary SchoolGood
#67Ponteland Community Primary SchoolGood
#68Ponteland Primary SchoolGood
#69Prior Park Primary SchoolGood
#70Prudhoe Castle First SchoolGood
#71Red Row Primary SchoolGood
#72Richard Coates Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#73Ringway Primary SchoolGood
#74Scremerston First SchoolGood
#75Seahouses Primary SchoolGood
#76Seaton Delaval First SchoolGood
#77Seaton Sluice First SchoolGood
#78Seghill First SchoolGood
#79Shaftoe Trust AcademyGood
#80Shilbottle Primary SchoolGood
#81Slaley First SchoolGood
#82Ss Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary AcademyGood
#83St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, AshingtonGood
#84St Mary's Catholic First School, HexhamGood
#85St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, PrudhoeGood
#86St Paul's Catholic Primary School, AlnwickGood
#87Stakeford Primary SchoolGood
#88Stamfordham Primary SchoolGood
#89Stannington First SchoolGood
#90Stead Lane Primary SchoolGood
#91Swansfield Park Primary SchoolGood
#92Swarland Primary SchoolGood
#93The Sele First SchoolGood
#94Thropton Village First SchoolGood
#95Tritlington Church of England First SchoolGood
#96Tweedmouth West Primary SchoolGood
#97Whalton Church of England Aided Primary SchoolGood
#98Whittingham Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#99Whittonstall First SchoolGood
#100Wylam First SchoolGood
#101Bedlington Whitley Memorial Church of England Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#102Cramlington Village Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#103St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £8,348 (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.

45th of 124 primary schools in Northumberland for spending per pupil

#43Stakeford Primary School£8,387
#44Bellingham Primary School£8,353
#45St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham£8,348
#46New Delaval Primary School£8,208
#47Pegswood Primary School£8,140

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

#1Holy Island Church of England Primary School£38,921
#2Linton Primary School£30,353
#3Kielder Primary School and Nursery£27,851
#4Harbottle Church of England First School£21,833
#5Greenhaugh Primary School£21,080
#6Lowick Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£17,863
#7Whalton Church of England Aided Primary School£15,927
#8Whitley Chapel Church of England First School£14,919
#9Cambois Primary School£14,270
#10Scremerston First School£13,766
#11Norham St Ceolwulfs CofE Controlled Primary School£12,930
#12Tritlington Church of England First School£12,361
#13Chollerton Church of England Aided First School£12,261
#14Humshaugh Church of England First School£12,127
#15Slaley First School£11,743
#16Otterburn Primary School£11,699
#17Thropton Village First School£11,289
#18Broomhill Primary School£11,249
#19Cambo First School£10,282
#20Hugh Joicey Church of England Primary School, Ford£10,213
#21Hexham First School£10,107
#22Spittal Community Primary School£9,711
#23Newbrough Church of England Primary School£9,559
#24Beaufront First School£9,553
#25Glendale Primary School (Prev. Wooler First School)£9,479
#26Seahouses Primary School£9,399
#27Adderlane Academy£9,366
#28Broomhaugh (VA) Church of England First School£9,328
#29Greenhead Church of England Nursery and Primary School£9,294
#30Mickley First School£9,261
#31Choppington Primary School£9,245
#32Belford Primary School£9,197
#33Morpeth Road Academy£9,167
#34Prudhoe Castle First School£8,969
#35Acomb First School£8,868
#36Rothbury First School£8,792
#37Wark Church of England Primary School£8,706
#38NCEA William Leech CofE Primary School£8,601
#39Belsay Primary School£8,570
#40Ncea Harry Hotspur Church of England Primary School£8,492
#41Tweedmouth West Primary School£8,444
#42Bedlington Station Primary School£8,407
#43Stakeford Primary School£8,387
#44Bellingham Primary School£8,353
#45St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham£8,348
#46New Delaval Primary School£8,208
#47Pegswood Primary School£8,140
#48Haltwhistle Primary Academy£8,130
#49Red Row Primary School£8,113
#50Prior Park Primary School£8,106
#51Ringway Primary School£8,085
#52Hipsburn Primary School£8,021
#53St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Berwick£8,000
#54Mowbray Primary School£7,969
#55St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School£7,878
#56Henshaw Church of England Primary School£7,877
#57Beaconhill Community Primary School£7,856
#58Stead Lane Primary School£7,817
#59Seaton Delaval First School£7,815
#60Stamfordham Primary School£7,808
#61Cramlington Shanklea Primary School£7,761
#62Longhorsley St Helen's Church of England Aided First School£7,749
#63Allendale Primary School£7,746
#64Whittonstall First School£7,745
#65Seghill First School£7,690
#66St Bede's Catholic Primary School£7,680
#67Felton Church of England Primary School£7,656
#68Whittingham Church of England Primary School£7,656
#69Bedlington West End Primary School£7,604
#70Holywell Village First School£7,576
#71Seaton Sluice First School£7,569
#72Cramlington Village Primary School£7,558
#73Stannington First School£7,534
#74Swarland Primary School£7,462
#75Bedlington Whitley Memorial Church of England Primary School£7,431
#76Shaftoe Trust Academy£7,385
#77Broomley First School£7,365
#78Prudhoe West Academy£7,329
#79Corbridge (VA) Church of England First School£7,287
#80Cramlington Northburn Primary School£7,274
#81NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary School£7,262
#82Eastlea Primary School£7,239
#83Berwick St Mary's Church of England Primary School£7,200
#84Richard Coates Church of England Primary School£7,167
#85Ponteland Community Primary School£7,124
#86King Edwin Primary School£7,123
#87Ellington Primary School£7,045
#88Newsham Primary School£7,035
#89Meadowdale Academy£6,995
#90St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, Prudhoe£6,972
#91The Sele First School£6,830
#92Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School£6,806
#93Cragside CofE Controlled Primary School£6,798
#94Morpeth First School£6,736
#95New Hartley First School£6,713
#96Ss Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary Academy£6,711
#97NCEA Thomas Bewick C of E Primary School£6,700
#98Grange View Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,700
#99Horton Grange Primary School£6,659
#100Morpeth Stobhillgate First School£6,589
#101Wylam First School£6,498
#102Malvin's Close Academy£6,454
#103Croftway Academy£6,423
#104NCEA James Knott CofE Primary School£6,339
#105St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Alnwick£6,322
#106Heddon-on-the-Wall, St Andrew's Church of England Primary School£6,295
#107St Roberts Catholic First School, Morpeth£6,196
#108Morpeth All Saints Church of England First School£6,195
#109Amble Links Primary School£6,184
#110Abbeyfields First School£6,147
#111St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Ashington£6,059
#112Hareside Primary School£5,987
#113Ponteland Primary School£5,966
#114Branton Primary School and Nursery£5,960
#115Ovingham Church of England First School£5,892
#116NCEA Warkworth Church of England Primary School£5,837
#117Darras Hall Primary School£5,656
#118Burnside Primary School£5,525
#119NCEA Bishop's Primary School£5,449
#120Ellingham Church of England Primary School£5,050
#121Longhoughton Church of England Primary School£3,803
#122Embleton Vincent Edwards Church of England Primary School£3,774
#123Swansfield Park Primary School£2,542
#124Shilbottle Primary School£2,100

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

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