St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Sturminster Newton, part of Plymouth Cast. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 20th-highest of the 89 schools in Dorset with published results, and 5,775th of 14,452 across England. It was 43% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Dorset (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull in detail
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, drama, Lego and book club.
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £2.90 per session.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Dorset and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 71% in reading and 71% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
For September 2026 entry, 6 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull as their first choice and 14 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull are St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, Marnhull (0.9 miles, 67% reading, 67% maths); Stower Provost Community School (1.7 miles, Requires improvement, 73% reading, 53% maths); Stalbridge Church of England Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 77% reading, 74% maths); and St Nicholas CofE Primary School, Henstridge (3.8 miles, 71% reading, 57% maths).
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, MarnhullStower Provost Community SchoolStalbridge Church of England Primary SchoolSt Nicholas CofE Primary School, Henstridge
The trust
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull 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.
Who goes there
13.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 19 pupils (23.2%) received SEN support and 3 (3.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
13.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 71% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 71% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 71% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
16.4
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
18.0
KS2
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull is in Dorset; for families living there:
Apply to Dorset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 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's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
Will you get a place at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Dorset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull for 2015 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Dorset 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
43%
Available places
75 pupils
175 places
100 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sturminster Newton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sturminster Newton
Across Dorset council
Places available
3,692
Applications
2,795
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Dorset council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
19
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
26.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
82
Total Pupils
41
Boys
41
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
16.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,489
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,434
Per pupil
£589k
Total funding
£24k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.7%
Overall absence
10.3%
Persistent absence
68
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
What are SATs results like at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
Of the pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull is oversubscribed, Dorset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull was not full in 2025: it ran at 43% of its 175 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
Classes at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull average 16.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull has around 82 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
5.7% of sessions were missed at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull in 2024/25. 10.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
Apply through Dorset's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull 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's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull is at Old Mill Lane, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1JX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)