St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston, Ulverston

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders have planned an early years curriculum that is well structured and focused on the essential knowledge children need."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders identify any additional needs that pupils have at the earliest opportunity, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have high expectations for pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear oversight of pupils' attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of education that the school provides."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all staff consistently and effectively address basic errors in pupils' handwriting, spelling and punctuation so that these do not persist"; "Leaders should ensure that all teachers apply consistent expectations of behaviour in lessons so that pupils remain focused and do not distract others from their learning".

From the headteacher's welcome: "St Mary's is a small Nursery and Primary School in the centre of the historical town of Ulverston, South Cumbria. Our two year old setting opened in January 2024 and we are so proud to be able to offer this provision to our loal communcity. We currently have 157 pupils on roll."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, gymnastics, running, dance, gardening and forest school.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £5 per session.

In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Westmorland and Furness and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 100% in reading and 93% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 21 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston as their first choice and 42 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston are Sir John Barrow School (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 91% maths); Croftlands Junior School (0.5 miles, Good, 71% reading, 79% maths); Croftlands Infant School (0.5 miles, Good); and Church Walk CofE Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths).

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

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston is one of 16 schools run by Mater Christi Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

51 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston (as of April 2026): 88% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).

4.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 9 pupils (5.8%) received SEN support and 12 (7.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 180 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Springfield Road (near), 130 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ulverston stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 63 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Westmorland and Furness (11), as is usual near a town centre.

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