St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school excels at teaching reading through expert phonics instruction and supporting pupils to become confident, independent writers through high-quality texts and purposeful activities. It creates a calm, respectful learning environment where all pupils are valued, with particularly strong support for those with additional needs. The school also develops pupils' wider skills through extra-curricular clubs, competitive sports, and leadership opportunities that build responsibility and respect.
Key Strengths
- Effective phonics teaching with deep subject knowledge ensures pupils become fluent readers
- Well-structured curriculum with strong subject knowledge in writing and other areas
- Consistent behaviour expectations and positive relationships between staff and pupils
- Strong support for pupils with SEND who access the ambitious curriculum
- Warm early years provision that encourages independent learning and exploration
Areas for Improvement
- Strategies to help pupils remember and retain key learning are not consistently applied across all foundation subjects, leading to some knowledge gaps
- Some pupils do not develop secure understanding across the full curriculum as a result
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils taught how to stay safe online and understand risks including personal information sharing.
Extracurricular Activities
Extra-curricular clubs, competitive sports against other schools, Year 5 buddy roles with Reception children, road safety, fire safety, water safety
St Mary's Catholic Primary School is a warm and welcoming place where pupils are happy, safe, and have high ambitions for their learning. The school has maintained the good standards identified at its previous inspection.
At a Glance
6.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
67 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 83% to 100%. Maths has improved from 63% to 90%. Writing has improved from 73% to 90%.
Class Sizes
27.0
Avg class size
22.7
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
189 pupils
210 capacity
21 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Admissions Demand - Gateshead
Places available
2,504
Applications
1,789
Got 1st preference
96.9%
Got preferred school
99.8%
Primary admissions across Gateshead (2025/26)
Inspection History
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.85356%
Overall absence
1.17647%
Persistent absence
170
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.