St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Cumberland · CA28 9PG

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 195 pupils, 23.1% FSM

Educational attainment Ofsted and results

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 14.9% on SEN support Behaviour 4.4% absence rate Staff 16.7% turnover Financials £6,919 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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St Mary's Catholic Primary School

General Information

Address: High Road, Kells, Whitehaven, CA28 9PG – View on map
Phone: 0194666356
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Susan Starkie
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 20 families put it first for 21 places – 10 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 10 · 2024 10 · 2025 10 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

195 pupils out of 180 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 42
% eligible for free school meals: 23.1%
Pupil mix: 4 in 10 (more mixed than the Cumberland average)
English as an additional language: 12% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 16.7% a year (Cumberland 14.2%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 71% moved to another school, 29% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 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 Cumberland: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 4 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 8 (0.4 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 5 (0.2 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 Cumberland, 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: 4.4%
Persistently absent pupils: 7.5%
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: 14.9%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 3.6%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 14 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 5 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 5 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 3 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Autistic spectrum disorder: 6 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 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

No overall grade given 2025 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted stopped giving single overall grades for a period between September 2024 and November 2025 - this school's most recent inspection falls in that window, so there's no single rating to show, even though it was inspected. The full report (linked below) still has the detail.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 76% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 12% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 20 percentage points above the Cumberland average (56%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well above (3-year average 78% against an expected 62%)
3-year average (expected standard): 78%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 96% · Writing 88% · Maths 84% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 88%
Average test scores: reading 109, maths 107
Based on: 25 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 schoolCumberland averageEngland→ Broadly steady No clear rise or fall since 2022/23 (changes this small are normal from one year group to the next). In 2024/25 this school was 20 percentage points above the Cumberland average (56%).

Year 6 SATs: 17th of 111 junior and primary schools in the area

=14Irthington Village School78%
=14Scotby CofE Primary School78%
#17St Mary's Catholic Primary School76%
=18Bowness-on-Solway Primary School75%
=18Wiggonby CofE School75%

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

#1St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School91%
#2Stoneraise School90%
#3Jericho Primary School89%
=4Crosby-on-Eden CofE School88%
=4Hayton CofE Primary School88%
#6Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School87%
=7Fairfield Primary School83%
=7Shankhill CofE Primary School83%
#9Lanercost CofE Primary School82%
#10Gosforth CofE Primary School and Nursery81%
=11Bookwell Primary School80%
=11Great Corby School and Nursery80%
=11Moresby Primary School80%
=14Ennerdale and Kinniside CofE Primary School78%
=14Irthington Village School78%
=14Scotby CofE Primary School78%
#17St Mary's Catholic Primary School76%
=18Bowness-on-Solway Primary School75%
=18Wiggonby CofE School75%
=20Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy74%
=20St James' CofE Junior School74%
=20Thursby Primary School74%
#23Cummersdale School73%
#24Broughton Primary School72%
=25Castle Carrock School70%
=25Frizington Community Primary School70%
=25Raughton Head CofE School & Nursery70%
=25St Patrick's Catholic Primary School70%
=29Belle Vue Primary School69%
=29St Mary's Catholic Primary School69%
=31Houghton CofE School68%
=31Longtown Primary School68%
=31Yewdale School68%
=34Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School67%
=34Lorton School67%
=34Plumbland CofE School67%
=34Rosley CofE School67%
#38Beckstone Primary School65%
=39St James' Catholic Primary School64%
=39Westfield Nursery and Primary School64%
#41Kirkbampton CofE School63%
=42Ashfield Junior School62%
=42St Bridget's Catholic Primary School62%
=44St Bees Village Primary School61%
=44Upperby Primary School61%
=46Brampton Primary School60%
=46Kingmoor Junior School60%
=46St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle60%
=49Norman Street Primary School59%
=49Richmond Hill School59%
=49Warwick Bridge Primary School59%
=52Dearham Primary School58%
=52Rockcliffe CofE School58%
=54St Bede's Catholic Primary School57%
=54St Matthew's CofE School57%
#56Caldew Lea School56%
=57Newtown Primary School55%
=57Seascale Primary School55%
=57Stanwix School55%
=60Moor Row Community Primary School54%
=60Our Lady and St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Maryport54%
=60St Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School54%
=60Wreay Church of England Primary School54%
#64St Patrick's Catholic Primary School53%
#65Flimby Primary School52%
#66Pennine Way Primary School51%
=67Beckermet CofE School50%
=67Black Combe Junior School50%
=67Burgh by Sands School50%
=67Haverigg Primary School50%
=67Hensingham Primary School50%
=67Lowca Community School50%
=67Newlaithes Junior School50%
=67Petteril Bank School50%
#75Ewanrigg Junior School48%
=76Cumwhinton School47%
=76St Begh's Catholic Junior School47%
=76St Bridget's CofE School47%
=76St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Workington47%
=80Inglewood Junior School46%
=80Orgill Primary School46%
=80Thomlinson Junior School46%
=83Boltons CofE School45%
=83Dean CofE School45%
=83Maryport CofE Primary School45%
=83St Michael's CofE Primary School45%
#87Bransty Primary School44%
=88Brook Street Primary School43%
=88The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided)43%
=88Waberthwaite CofE School43%
#91Seaton St. Paul's CofE Junior School42%
=92Monkwray Junior School41%
=92St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle41%
=94Hallbankgate Village School38%
=94Kirkbride Primary School38%
=94Robert Ferguson Primary School38%
=94Silloth Primary School38%
=98Braithwaite CofE Primary School36%
=98St Bridget's CofE School36%
=98Valley Primary School and Nursery36%
=101Fir Ends Primary School33%
=101Montreal CofE Primary School33%
#103Northside Primary School30%
=104Blennerhasset School29%
=104Thwaites School29%
=104Victoria Junior School29%
#107Crosscanonby St John's CofE School18%
#108Blackford CofE Primary School13%
#109Holm Cultram Abbey CofE Primary School10%
#110Distington Community School9%
#111Fellview Primary School0%

View full Ofsted inspection report

Financials

Spending per pupil: £6,919 (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.

78th of 105 primary schools in Cumberland for spending per pupil

#76Pennine Way Primary School£7,021
#77Cummersdale School£6,991
#78St Mary's Catholic Primary School£6,919
#79Moresby Primary School£6,918
#80Haverigg Primary School£6,918

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

#1Bewcastle School£27,477
#2Allonby Primary School£21,163
#3Bassenthwaite Primary School£17,043
#4Walton & Lees Hill CofE School£16,062
#5Borrowdale CofE Primary School£15,413
#6St Bega's CofE Primary School£15,230
#7Great Orton Primary School£15,207
#8Holme St Cuthbert School£14,368
#9Captain Shaw's CofE School£14,150
#10Thwaites School£13,218
#11Fellview Primary School£12,599
#12St Joseph's Catholic Primary School£11,752
#13St Matthew's CofE School£11,559
#14Shankhill CofE Primary School£11,526
#15Ennerdale and Kinniside CofE Primary School£11,004
#16Blackford CofE Primary School£10,911
#17Ireby CofE School£10,874
#18Holm Cultram Abbey CofE Primary School£10,754
#19St Michael's CofE Primary School£10,754
#20Bowness-on-Solway Primary School£10,684
#21Crosscanonby St John's CofE School£10,649
#22Rosley CofE School£10,544
#23Castle Carrock School£10,512
#24Oughterside Primary School£10,412
#25Irthington Village School£10,121
#26Hallbankgate Village School£10,106
#27Kirkbride Primary School£9,964
#28Plumbland CofE School£9,684
#29Lowca Community School£9,684
#30Blennerhasset School£9,671
#31The Bishop Harvey Goodwin School (Church of England Voluntary Aided)£9,664
#32Orgill Primary School£9,617
#33Wiggonby CofE School£9,567
#34Seascale Primary School£9,474
#35Distington Community School£9,449
#36Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School£9,389
#37Moor Row Community Primary School£9,190
#38Beckermet CofE School£9,051
#39Westfield Nursery and Primary School£8,893
#40Waberthwaite CofE School£8,863
#41St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, Carlisle£8,862
#42Montreal CofE Primary School£8,806
#43Crosby-on-Eden CofE School£8,593
#44Burgh by Sands School£8,492
#45Hensingham Primary School£8,479
#46Lanercost CofE Primary School£8,392
#47Petteril Bank School£8,365
#48Raughton Head CofE School & Nursery£8,350
#49Thursby Primary School£8,297
#50Fir Ends Primary School£8,244
#51St James' Catholic Primary School£8,176
#52St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Workington£8,169
#53St Bridget's CofE School£8,135
#54Frizington Community Primary School£8,033
#55St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School£7,831
#56Rockcliffe CofE School£7,814
#57Boltons CofE School£7,798
#58Great Corby School and Nursery£7,786
#59St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Carlisle£7,755
#60Valley Primary School and Nursery£7,647
#61St Bridget's CofE School£7,643
#62Bransty Primary School£7,494
#63Bridekirk Dovenby CofE Primary School£7,443
#64Northside Primary School£7,416
#65Kirkbampton CofE School£7,392
#66St Patrick's Catholic Primary School£7,375
#67Silloth Primary School£7,314
#68Gosforth CofE Primary School and Nursery£7,265
#69St Bede's Catholic Primary School£7,261
#70Newtown Primary School£7,222
#71Brook Street Primary School£7,219
#72Stoneraise School£7,079
#73Houghton CofE School£7,066
#74Our Lady and St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Maryport£7,037
#75Upperby Primary School£7,030
#76Pennine Way Primary School£7,021
#77Cummersdale School£6,991
#78St Mary's Catholic Primary School£6,919
#79Moresby Primary School£6,918
#80Haverigg Primary School£6,918
#81Richmond Hill School£6,903
#82Hayton CofE Primary School£6,815
#83St Mary's Catholic Primary School£6,790
#84St Bridget's Catholic Primary School£6,767
#85St Michael's CofE Primary School£6,727
#86Bookwell Primary School£6,721
#87St Herbert's CofE (VA) Primary and Nursery School£6,714
#88Brampton Primary School£6,698
#89St Patrick's Catholic Primary School£6,600
#90Cumwhinton School£6,530
#91Robert Ferguson Primary School£6,469
#92Eaglesfield Paddle CofE Primary Academy£6,460
#93Norman Street Primary School£6,426
#94Warwick Bridge Primary School£6,389
#95Belle Vue Primary School£6,337
#96Maryport CofE Primary School£6,319
#97Caldew Lea School£6,310
#98Scotby CofE Primary School£6,301
#99Beckstone Primary School£6,301
#100Stanwix School£6,256
#101Fairfield Primary School£6,200
#102Jericho Primary School£6,167
#103Broughton Primary School£5,978
#104Longtown Primary School£5,959
#105Yewdale School£5,725

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

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