St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School, Brighton
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Brighton. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 36 schools in Brighton with published results, and 7,614th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Brighton and Hove (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 69% in Brighton and Hove and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 80% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 8 families put St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School are St Paul's CofE Primary School (0.2 miles, Requires improvement, 76% reading, 86% maths); Middle Street Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 77% maths); Brunswick Primary School (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 77% reading, 69% maths); and Carlton Hill Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 84% reading, 77% maths).
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
St Paul's CofE Primary SchoolMiddle Street Primary SchoolBrunswick Primary SchoolCarlton Hill Primary School
Who goes there
37.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 64.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (25%), other ethnic groups (24%) and White British (15%).
In 2026, 19 pupils (9.8%) received SEN support and 10 (5.2%) 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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Brighton Rail Station, about 680 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Waitrose (adjacent), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1807 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Brighton and Hove (366), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 3.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from November 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a caring school where children feel safe and excited about learning. Staff build strong relationships with pupils and provide tailored support, especially for those learning English or with additional needs. The school offers a rich range of activities and experiences that help children develop confidence and become responsible citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on language, communication and reading, particularly benefiting pupils learning English as an additional language
- Expert support for pupils with special educational needs who learn the same curriculum as their peers
- Excellent personal development opportunities including clubs, trips and roles as school councillors
- Consistent routines and high expectations for behaviour create a safe environment
- Staff understand pupils' social and emotional needs and provide tailored support
Areas for Improvement
- Mathematics assessment needs improvement - the school lacks precise ways of checking what pupils understand and remember over time, meaning some gaps and misconceptions are not addressed
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with the school demonstrating a strong commitment to pupil safety and wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs during the school day, local trips, school council roles, school celebrations and assemblies, internet safety education, local area safety education, breakfast club
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is a welcoming, safe school where pupils feel at home and are enthusiastic about learning. The school has maintained good standards since its previous inspection in 2019.
At a Glance
37.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 65% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 85% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.5
Avg class size
23.3
Infant (KS1)
26.8
KS2
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
Before and after school care
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Brighton and Hove
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School.
- PLAY at St Mary Magdalen'sAt the school · Not yet graded
- Super Camps at Brighton Girls360m away · Not yet graded
- Silverbox After School Club - St Paul's School380m away · Not yet graded
- Starfish Kids Club @ St Paul's380m away · Not yet graded
- Hopscotch Holiday Club - Holland Road980m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is in Brighton and Hove; for families living there:
Apply to Brighton and Hove for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 184
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 40
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 184 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 40 serious and 144 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
35 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Brighton and Hove is 40.5 (the median across 82 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School.
- Brighton and Hove publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Brighton and Hove got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
173 pupils
210 places
37 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Brighton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Brighton
Across Brighton and Hove council
Places available
2,430
Applications
1,936
Got 1st preference
93.8%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Brighton and Hove council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
19
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
15.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
193
Total Pupils
106
Boys
87
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
21.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,748
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,556
Per pupil
£1254k
Total funding
£100k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
11.0%
Persistent absence
164
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is oversubscribed, Brighton and Hove allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
Classes at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School average 23.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School has around 193 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 11% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
Apply through Brighton and Hove's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: PLAY at St Mary Magdalen's (registered, not yet graded). There are 4 more within a kilometre.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 184 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 40 serious and 144 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 35 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Brighton and Hove is 40.5 (the median across 82 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School?
St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School is at Spring Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3EF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)