St Mark's CofE Primary School, Stoke-on-Trent

In its own words: "Our mission statement, 'Loving to Learn, Learning to Love' is at the heart of all we do and is underpinned by our School Values of Respect, Responsibility, Equality, Spirituality, Perseverance, Enthusiasm, Courage and Trust. A warm welcome to St. Mark's CE Primary School. Please feel free to arrange a visit if you would like to."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are an inclusive and nurturing school where pupils feel safe, happy, secure and ready to learn to achieve their very best. We recognise all pupils as individuals and their needs come first in all we do. We believe that pupils achieve their very best when school and homes work together in partnership."

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils at St Mark's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Stoke-on-Trent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 39% in reading and 49% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 57 families put St Mark's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 71 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Mark's CofE Primary School are Etruscan Primary School (0.5 miles, 50% reading, 45% maths); Waterside Primary School (0.6 miles, 73% reading, 80% maths); Hanley St Luke's Church of England Academy (0.8 miles, 53% reading, 60% maths); and St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 77% reading, 68% maths).

St Mark's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

St Mark's CofE Primary School is one of 7 schools run by Orchard Community Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 47% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mark's CofE Primary School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

57.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 88.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (73%) and Black (10%).

In 2026, 48 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 16 (3.6%) 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 Stoke-on-Trent Rail Station, about 1170 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Havelock Place (adjacent), 40 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Mark's CofE Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 725 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Stoke-on-Trent (280), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Mark's CofE Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 0.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.