St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School, Sutton-in-Ashfield

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders' sustained efforts to strengthen attendance are having a clear impact."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a curriculum that is broad and ambitious across all subjects."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children typically get off to a positive start in the early years and make good progress from their starting points."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "From the moment children start in the early years, leaders quickly assess and identify their needs."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including those from the trust, know the school well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils' personal development is supported through a broad range of experiences that promote their physical and mental wellbeing, enjoyment and social interaction."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement at the end of key stage 2 is below where it should be for their age in reading and mathematics."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that their current strategies to secure rapid and sustained improvement in mathematics and reading are embedded across the school so that more pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, are ready for key stage 3"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers' pedagogical choices support pupils consistently well so that pupils achieve as highly as possible"; "Leaders should ensure that staff maximise the use of the learning environment in the early years, so that they promote and develop children's writing during independent learning activities".

From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of all our pupils, families, staff and governors, welcome to St Mary's! Our children describe our school as determined, exciting and friendly. And we are! As a staff team, we have high expectations of both ourselves and our children."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am, from £4 per day.

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Nottinghamshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (70% in reading, 53% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 28 families put St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School as their first choice and 83 named it as one of their preferences, for 27 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School are Brierley Forest Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles, 44% reading, 38% maths); Mapplewells Primary and Nursery School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 89% maths); Huthwaite All Saints Church of England Infant and Nursery School (0.9 miles); and Priestsic Primary and Nursery School (0.9 miles, Good, 52% reading, 53% maths).

St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School is one of 24 schools run by Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

16.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 16 pupils (7.8%) received SEN support and 6 (2.9%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Sutton Parkway Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Columbia Avenue (opposite), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 277 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 Nottinghamshire (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School issued 13 suspensions, 6.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School are Quarrydale Academy (0.8 miles), Sutton Community Academy (0.9 miles) and Ashfield Comprehensive School (1.3 miles).