St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast, Buckfastleigh

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years make a positive start to their education."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school's inclusive ethos is rooted firmly in its values."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "School leaders provide a well-structured programme that promotes pupils' personal development and wellbeing effectively."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Inconsistencies in teaching mean that current pupils make uneven progress through the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Expectations for pupils' behaviour are not consistently high across the school."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Inconsistencies in the implementation of the curriculum limit how well some pupils learn."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders, including from the trust, have not identified with sufficient precision the current inconsistencies in curriculum and teaching."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that assessment and feedback are used consistently well to support teachers to design learning activities that build on what pupils know and can do"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need, particularly in relation to their handwriting, spelling and grammar, so that they are able to produce work of a consistently high quality"; "Leaders, including governors and trust leaders, should ensure that there is robust oversight of the actions they take to improve the school so that areas that need attention are promptly identified and addressed"; "Leaders should ensure they support staff to consistently implement the behaviour policy, so that pupils develop appropriate learning behaviours".

In its own words: "At St. Mary's, we are a warm, welcoming community dedicated to inspiring every child, from ages 3 to 11, to learn and grow in an environment filled with Gospel values. We cherish the uniqueness of each individual, aiming to nurture and celebrate every child's potential in learning, confidence, cooperation, and responsibility."

From the headteacher's welcome: "St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School is a warm, welcoming community with a strong foundation in faith, owned and supported by Buckfast Abbey Trust. As a proud member of Plymouth CAST-a multi-academy trust with thirty-four Catholic schools and one nursery across the Dioc ese of Plymouth-we’re dedicated to providing a rich, values-based education."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Devon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 87% 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, 26 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast as their first choice and 32 named it as one of their preferences, for 26 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, Buckfast are Buckfastleigh Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 74% reading, 68% maths); Ashburton Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 69% reading, 62% maths); Landscove Church of England Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 92% maths); and Broadhempston Village Primary School (3.8 miles, Outstanding, 92% reading, 83% maths).

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast is one of 34 schools run by Plymouth Cast, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 51% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

65 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast (as of April 2026): 86% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 21% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (21%).

0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 35 pupils (20.8%) received SEN support and 12 (7.1%) 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.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast had 11 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Buckfastleigh (South Devon Railway), about 1170 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Buckfast Abbey (w-bound), 70 metres away.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.