St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley, Chorley

Ofsted's report card from its 6 January 2026 inspection grades St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley 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 positive results in national assessments for reading, writing and mathematics, matching the national average."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "The school ensures that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, attend regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school delivers a broad and balanced curriculum that leaders ensure is sequenced logically."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in Nursery and Reception benefit positively from a successful start to their education."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "This is an inclusive school, where leaders are committed to meeting the needs of every pupil."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate secure knowledge of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school promotes pupils' wider development effectively."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should make sure that they provide staff with more targeted professional development so that they can respond swiftly and effectively to the school's changing special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND) context. • Leaders should ensure that they embed the new strategies to support pupils' composition, grammar and handwriting development so that it benefits all pupils, including those with SEND".

In its own words: "Our school values are taken from the British Values, Gospel Values and Global Values. They underpin all parts of our school life here at St. Mary's and these values are celebrated in our weekly: Value of the Week award."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, known locally as Chorley St Mary's. We have wonderful, well-behaved children who work hard and show kindness and consideration to one another. We have a dedicated and talented staff team all focused on ensuring that our pupils receive the best possible education and care."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley reached the expected standard in reading and 72% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 90% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley as their first choice and 70 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley are Gillibrand Primary School (0.4 miles, 76% reading, 79% maths); Buckshaw Primary School (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, 64% reading, 61% maths); Duke Street Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 45% reading, 68% maths); and Chorley All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery Unit (0.8 miles, Good, 62% reading, 55% maths).

St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley (as of April 2026): 94% 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 they are kept well informed about progress (90%).

6.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 19 pupils (9.2%) received SEN support and 11 (5.3%) 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 Chorley Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Heathrow Place (opposite), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 220 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley issued 4 suspensions, 2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Chorley are Parklands High School (0.4 miles), Southlands High School (0.7 miles), St Michael's Church of England High School (0.8 miles) and Holy Cross Catholic High School (1.2 miles).