St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School, Bexhill-on-Sea
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bexhill-on-Sea. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2010. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 8 schools in Bexhill-on-Sea with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2010)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to East Sussex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School in detail
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is a one form entry school which is part of the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Bexhill-on-Sea, comprising St Mary Magdalene Church Town Centre and St Martha's, Little Common. We provide an education that focuses on the formation of the whole person and on our vocation and purpose in life."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I know that choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make. St. Mary Magdalene is a happy and successful parish school situated in the beautiful coastal town of Bexhill-on-Sea."
The school runs after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in East Sussex
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (80% in reading, 87% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 33 families put St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 75 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School are Pebsham Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 82% maths); St Peter and St Paul CofE Primary School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, 90% reading, 92% maths); Chantry Community Primary School (0.8 miles, 52% reading, 68% maths); and King Offa Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 78% reading, 82% maths).
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Pebsham Primary AcademySt Peter and St Paul CofE Primary SchoolChantry Community Primary SchoolKing Offa Primary Academy
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child does well at the school (92%).
Who goes there
10.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 21 pupils (10.1%) received SEN support and 4 (1.9%) 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 Bexhill Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bexhill College (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 177 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School are St Richard's Catholic College (0.5 miles) and Bexhill High Academy (1.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2010, 16 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
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Mary Magdalene excels at creating a positive, respectful learning environment where pupils are happy and eager to attend school. The school's ambitious curriculum is supported by teachers with strong subject knowledge, and exceptional support for reading ensures pupils progress well. The school goes far beyond the classroom with enriching trips, clubs, and activities that help all pupils - including the most disadvantaged - develop a range of skills and talents.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding behaviour and attitudes - pupils are extremely well-behaved and show high levels of respect
- Excellent reading provision with well-trained staff teaching phonics consistently and matching books to pupils' knowledge
- Strong support for pupils with SEND who make clear progress learning the same curriculum as their peers
- Rich opportunities for enrichment including clubs, sports, musical instruments, and educational trips
- Positive relationships between staff and pupils creating a calm, happy learning environment
Areas for Improvement
- In a small number of subjects, some learning activities are not well-designed enough to help pupils learn the curriculum as deeply as they could
- School should ensure teachers have consistent knowledge and skills to design activities that match the ambitious curriculum across all subjects
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective and the school has created an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, sports competitions, musical instruments, rock performances, bridge club, fieldwork fortnight, local community investigations, educational trips
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is a Good rated primary school where pupils embody the school ethos of 'Let your light shine' through confident learning and positive attitudes. The school has outstanding behaviour and personal development, with high expectations that help pupils achieve well.
At a Glance
10.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 87% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.3
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
5
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School
Term dates
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see East Sussex's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is in East Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to East Sussex for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 14 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
6 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 East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 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 Magdalene Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from East Sussex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in East Sussex 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
99%
Near capacity
208 pupils
210 places
2 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bexhill-on-Sea
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bexhill-on-Sea
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,501
Applications
4,559
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
12.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
208
Total Pupils
95
Boys
113
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,277
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,248
Per pupil
£1177k
Total funding
£30k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
10.5%
Persistent absence
181
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 Magdalene Catholic Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2010, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
Classes at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School has around 208 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 10.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary Magdalene 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.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 14 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 6 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 East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School?
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is at Hastings Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 2ND.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)