St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle, Barnard Castle

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are incredibly proud of the caring and nurturing environment where every child is valued and respected for who they are. The family ethos of our small school ensures our children develop a strong sense of belonging from the day they start their journey with us."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 4:30pm, from £5 per session.

In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle reached the expected standard in reading and 94% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 94% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 11 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle as their first choice and 43 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 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 Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle are Montalbo Nursery & Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 89% maths); Green Lane Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, 82% reading, 66% maths); Cotherstone Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 50% reading, 50% maths); and Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School (4.1 miles, Requires improvement).

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle is one of 35 schools run by Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 75% 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) (75%).

3.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 28 pupils (27.2%) received SEN support and 2 (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 speech, language and communication needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle.

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is RC School (nw-bound), 90 metres away.

In 2024/25, St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle issued 1 suspension, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.