St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School

East Suffolk · NR33 0DG

General information Primary School · 4-11 years Who goes here 155 pupils, 15.5% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 25.8% on SEN support Behaviour 4.3% absence rate Staff 19.4% turnover Financials £7,211 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School

General Information

Address: Kirkley Cliff Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0DG – View on map
Phone: 01502565384
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Helen Armstrong
Age range: 4-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 6 families put it first for 7 places – 9 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 9
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

155 pupils out of 210 places Plenty of room

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 24
% eligible for free school meals: 15.5%
Pupil mix: 6 in 10 (more mixed than the East Suffolk average)
English as an additional language: 21% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 19.4% a year (East Suffolk 17.2%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 57% moved to another school, 43% 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.

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 Suffolk: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 20 (0.4 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 1
Suspensions for bullying: 14 (0.3 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 1 (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 Suffolk (the council area this school is in), 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: 4.3%
Persistently absent pupils: 7.9%
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: 25.8%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 3.9%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need: 31 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 2 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 2 pupils
Vision impairment: 2 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
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil
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 2024 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: 61% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 0% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: in line with the East Suffolk average (61%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well below (3-year average 47% against an expected 69%)
3-year average (expected standard): 47%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 71% · Writing 71% · Maths 75% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 82%
Average test scores: reading 105, maths 104
Based on: 28 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 schoolEast Suffolk averageEngland↗ Improving Up 37 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was in line with the East Suffolk average (61%).

Year 6 SATs: 36th of 74 junior and primary schools in the area

=30Wickham Market Primary School63%
#35Blundeston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School62%
#36St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School61%
=37Brampton Church of England Primary School60%
=37Charsfield Church of England Primary School60%

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

#1Red Oak Primary School88%
#2The Albert Pye Community Primary School82%
#3Elm Tree Primary School81%
=4Oulton Broad Primary School79%
=4Poplars Community Primary School79%
=6Eyke Church of England Primary School78%
=6Kelsale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School78%
=8Bramfield Church of England Primary School75%
=8Martlesham Primary Academy75%
=8Woods Loke Primary School75%
#11Broke Hall Community Primary School74%
=12Birchwood Primary School73%
=12Sandlings Primary School73%
=12St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Woodbridge73%
#15Woodbridge Primary School72%
=16Bucklesham Primary School71%
=16Corton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School71%
=16Framlingham Sir Robert Hitcham's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School71%
=16Gunton Primary Academy71%
=16Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy71%
#21Reydon Primary School69%
=22Grove Primary School68%
=22Westwood Primary School68%
=24Grundisburgh Primary School67%
=24Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy67%
=26Aldeburgh Primary School64%
=26Leiston Primary School64%
=26The Limes Primary Academy64%
=26Wenhaston Primary School64%
=30Earl Soham Community Primary School63%
=30Gorseland Primary School63%
=30Pakefield Primary School63%
=30Saxmundham Primary School63%
=30Wickham Market Primary School63%
#35Blundeston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School62%
#36St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School61%
=37Brampton Church of England Primary School60%
=37Charsfield Church of England Primary School60%
=37Easton Primary School60%
=40Trimley St Martin Primary School59%
=40Worlingham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School59%
=42Heath Primary School, Kesgrave58%
=42Melton Primary School58%
=42Phoenix St Peter Academy58%
=45Cedarwood Primary School57%
=45Grange Community Primary School57%
=47Benhall St Mary's Church of England Primary School56%
=47Ilketshall St Lawrence School56%
=47Orford Church of England Primary School and Nursery56%
#50Witnesham Primary School55%
=51Bealings School53%
=51Nacton Church of England Primary School53%
#53Kingsfleet Primary School52%
#54St Margaret's Primary Academy51%
=55Beccles Primary Academy50%
=55Holton St Peter Community Primary School50%
=55Ringsfield Church of England Primary School50%
#58Dell Primary School47%
#59Trimley St Mary Primary School44%
=60Rendlesham Primary School43%
=60Snape Primary School43%
=60Southwold Primary School43%
=63Coldfair Green Community Primary School42%
=63Dennington Church of England Primary School42%
#65Edgar Sewter Community Primary School41%
#66St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery38%
#67Bungay Primary School36%
#68Langer Primary Academy35%
=69Barnby and North Cove Community Primary School33%
=69Otley Primary School33%
=69Roman Hill Primary School33%
#72Felix Primary School32%
#73Yoxford & Peasenhall Primary Academy30%
#74St Edmund's RC Primary School and Nursery23%

View full Ofsted inspection report

47th of 60 primary schools in East Suffolk for Ofsted rating

#45St Edmund's RC Primary School and NurseryGood
#46St Mary's Church of England Primary School, WoodbridgeGood
#47St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#48The Albert Pye Community Primary SchoolGood
#49The Limes 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

#1Birchwood Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Woods Loke Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Worlingham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Aldeburgh Primary SchoolGood
#5Bawdsey Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#6Bealings SchoolGood
#7Beccles Primary AcademyGood
#8Blundeston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#9Bramfield Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#10Broke Hall Community Primary SchoolGood
#11Bucklesham Primary SchoolGood
#12Cedarwood Primary SchoolGood
#13Charsfield Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#14Coldfair Green Community Primary SchoolGood
#15Dell Primary SchoolGood
#16Dennington Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#17Earl Soham Community Primary SchoolGood
#18Easton Primary SchoolGood
#19Edgar Sewter Community Primary SchoolGood
#20Elm Tree Primary SchoolGood
#21Eyke Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#22Framlingham Sir Robert Hitcham's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#23Grange Community Primary SchoolGood
#24Grove Primary SchoolGood
#25Grundisburgh Primary SchoolGood
#26Gunton Primary AcademyGood
#27Heath Primary School, KesgraveGood
#28Kelsale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#29Kessingland Church of England Primary AcademyGood
#30Kingsfleet Primary SchoolGood
#31Langer Primary AcademyGood
#32Leiston Primary SchoolGood
#33Martlesham Primary AcademyGood
#34Middleton Community Primary SchoolGood
#35Nacton Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#36Northfield St Nicholas Primary AcademyGood
#37Orford Church of England Primary School and NurseryGood
#38Red Oak Primary SchoolGood
#39Rendlesham Primary SchoolGood
#40Reydon Primary SchoolGood
#41Ringsfield Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#42Sandlings Primary SchoolGood
#43Saxmundham Primary SchoolGood
#44Somerleyton Primary SchoolGood
#45St Edmund's RC Primary School and NurseryGood
#46St Mary's Church of England Primary School, WoodbridgeGood
#47St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#48The Albert Pye Community Primary SchoolGood
#49The Limes Primary AcademyGood
#50Trimley St Martin Primary SchoolGood
#51Wenhaston Primary SchoolGood
#52Westwood Primary SchoolGood
#53Wickham Market Primary SchoolGood
#54Witnesham Primary SchoolGood
#55Woodbridge Primary SchoolGood
#56Yoxford & Peasenhall Primary AcademyGood
#57Felix Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#58Hollesley Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#59Poplars Community Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#60Waldringfield Primary SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £7,211 (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.

33rd of 78 primary schools in East Suffolk for spending per pupil

#31Bealings School£7,249
#32Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy£7,228
#33St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School£7,211
#34Reydon Primary School£7,207
#35Bucklesham Primary School£7,158

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

#1Snape Primary School£56,184
#2Middleton Community Primary School£17,053
#3Charsfield Church of England Primary School£11,892
#4Langer Primary Academy£11,744
#5Orford Church of England Primary School and Nursery£11,255
#6Felix Primary School£10,329
#7Barnby and North Cove Community Primary School£10,324
#8Dennington Church of England Primary School£9,444
#9Benhall St Mary's Church of England Primary School£9,427
#10St Edmund's RC Primary School and Nursery£9,309
#11Phoenix St Peter Academy£9,213
#12Beccles Primary Academy£8,781
#13St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery£8,384
#14Earl Soham Community Primary School£8,301
#15Somerleyton Primary School£8,279
#16Witnesham Primary School£8,275
#17Sandlings Primary School£8,210
#18Trimley St Martin Primary School£8,186
#19Roman Hill Primary School£8,136
#20Westwood Primary School£8,098
#21Southwold Primary School£7,870
#22Corton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School£7,864
#23Martlesham Primary Academy£7,784
#24Brampton Church of England Primary School£7,764
#25Wickham Market Primary School£7,685
#26Aldeburgh Primary School£7,625
#27Easton Primary School£7,568
#28Bramfield Church of England Primary School£7,463
#29Yoxford & Peasenhall Primary Academy£7,457
#30Poplars Community Primary School£7,402
#31Bealings School£7,249
#32Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy£7,228
#33St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School£7,211
#34Reydon Primary School£7,207
#35Bucklesham Primary School£7,158
#36Ringsfield Church of England Primary School£7,089
#37Nacton Church of England Primary School£7,075
#38Kelsale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£7,052
#39Saxmundham Primary School£6,892
#40St Margaret's Primary Academy£6,874
#41Elm Tree Primary School£6,852
#42Pakefield Primary School£6,818
#43Eyke Church of England Primary School£6,786
#44Melton Primary School£6,771
#45Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy£6,752
#46The Albert Pye Community Primary School£6,737
#47Red Oak Primary School£6,724
#48Wenhaston Primary School£6,722
#49Grange Community Primary School£6,700
#50Gunton Primary Academy£6,691
#51Dell Primary School£6,569
#52Worlingham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,380
#53Heath Primary School, Kesgrave£6,322
#54Woodbridge Primary School£6,287
#55Oulton Broad Primary School£6,254
#56Bungay Primary School£6,252
#57Blundeston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,154
#58Gorseland Primary School£6,151
#59Ilketshall St Lawrence School£6,139
#60Framlingham Sir Robert Hitcham's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School£6,124
#61Coldfair Green Community Primary School£6,101
#62Grundisburgh Primary School£6,071
#63Grove Primary School£6,059
#64Kingsfleet Primary School£6,045
#65Leiston Primary School£6,029
#66Edgar Sewter Community Primary School£5,970
#67St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Woodbridge£5,969
#68Birchwood Primary School£5,948
#69Cedarwood Primary School£5,945
#70The Limes Primary Academy£5,844
#71Trimley St Mary Primary School£5,829
#72Holton St Peter Community Primary School£5,815
#73Rendlesham Primary School£5,752
#74Woods Loke Primary School£5,697
#75Broke Hall Community Primary School£5,415
#76Bawdsey Church of England Primary School£5,211
#77Waldringfield Primary School£4,354
#78Hollesley Primary School£3,934

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

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