St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Smethwick

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades St Gregory's Catholic Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has improved significantly and is now above national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have focused on the right priorities following a period of instability."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a positive start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils are celebrated as unique individuals."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for further development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a rich programme of personal development that helps them grow into thoughtful, responsible and caring young people."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen pupils' speaking, listening and communication skills so that they can articulate their thinking clearly, reason effectively and become increasingly independent learners across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils apply their mathematical knowledge with increasing confidence by embedding reasoning, problem-solving and explanation throughout sequences of learning"; "Leaders should develop pupils' independence, resilience and confidence as learners so that they increasingly take responsibility for their learning, make informed decisions and are fully prepared for the next stage of education"; "Leaders could develop the early years learning environment so that the quality of provision and access to resources fully match leaders' curriculum ambitions and support children's learning, exploration and independence".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Aspiring to be great, through loving and learning, following in the footsteps of Jesus."

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at St Gregory's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 60% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 75% in Sandwell and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 74% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 33 families put St Gregory's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 89 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Gregory's Catholic Primary School are Abbey Junior School (0.2 miles, Good, 77% reading, 83% maths); Abbey Infant School (0.2 miles, Good); Bearwood Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 79% reading, 73% maths); and Annie Lennard Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 66% reading, 69% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Gregory's Catholic Primary School.

St Gregory's Catholic Primary School is one of 14 schools run by Emmaus Catholic Multi Academy Company, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

29.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (33%), Black (22%) and Mixed (15%).

In 2026, 42 pupils (18.3%) received SEN support and 5 (2.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Smethwick Rolfe Street Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wigorn Road (adjacent), 110 metres away.

St Gregory's Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St Gregory's Catholic Primary School are Lordswood Boys' School (0.6 miles), Shireland Collegiate Academy (0.7 miles), King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls (0.7 miles) and George Dixon Academy (0.8 miles).