St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Godalming
St Mary's Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Godalming, part of The Good Shepherd Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 8 schools in Godalming with published results, and 6,110th of 14,452 across England. It was 84% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Surrey (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary's Church of England Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Surrey and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (83% in reading, 75% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 24 families put St Mary's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 67 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Church of England Primary School are Witley CofE Controlled Infant School (2.6 miles, Good); Grayswood Church of England (Aided) Primary School (2.8 miles, Good, 95% reading, 95% maths); The Chandler CofE Aided Junior School (2.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 81% maths); and Northchapel Community Primary School (3.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 75% maths).
St Mary's Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Witley CofE Controlled Infant SchoolGrayswood Church of England (Aided) Primary SchoolThe Chandler CofE Aided Junior SchoolNorthchapel Community Primary School
The trust
St Mary's Church of England Primary School is one of 24 schools run by The Good Shepherd Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
75 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 83% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (83%).
Who goes there
9.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 8 pupils (4%) received SEN support and 7 (3.5%) 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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Witley Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodside Road (opposite), 190 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, burglary and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary's Church of England Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils thrive in this caring school community. Older pupils are wonderful role models for younger ones. They take their roles and responsibilities seriously, such as being peer mediators, prefects, librarians and school councillors. Pupils' conduct matches the school's values of wisdom, hope, respect and community. For example, pupils independently organise peer-to-peer reading sessions in the school library. Pupils develop their character and resilience in an exemplary way and are well prepared for their next stage of education.
The school helps pupils to develop a sense of belonging and connection to their immediate environment and the world beyond school. Pupils spoke with enthusiasm about their local walks, and deep understanding of local history. Visiting speakers enrich the curriculum and pupils' lives, such as when they heard a first-hand account from a wartime evacuee linked to the pupils' history topic. Pupils also benefit from hearing inspirational talks from local artists and writers.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has an ambitious curriculum. In key stage 1 and key stage 2 it has identified the precise knowledge and skills that it wants pupils to learn. The school's curriculum builds pupils' knowledge in a logical order. Staff give pupils the chance to revisit and strengthen their understanding. Some pupils recall their learning very securely. For example, in science pupils could explain how streamlined shapes would encounter less water resistance. In history, some pupils explained definitions of 'pre-history' and 'the Stone Age' with remarkable depth of understanding.
Reading is a strength of the school. Staff deliver the phonics programme systematically and with strong subject knowledge. If any pupils fall behind in reading, they receive help and catch up with their peers quickly. Pupils with SEND have their needs identified quickly, where necessary, starting with children's effective transitions into the early years. In the Reception class, children adapt to their new school routines quickly. Children in early years focus and engage in their learning well.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2019 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
9.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
75 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 76% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 70% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
29.3
Infant (KS1)
27.5
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Mary's Church of England Primary School.
- The Little Gym Godalming220m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Mary's Church of England Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Surrey's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary's Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's Church of England Primary School is in Surrey; for families living there:
- Surrey's school travel policy: Travel Assistance Policy for under 16s
- How to apply: Apply online for under 16 travel help
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 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 Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at St Mary's Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary's Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary's Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary's Church of England Primary School.
- Surrey publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Mary's Church of England Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary's Church of England Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Surrey 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
84%
Available places
202 pupils
240 places
38 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Godalming
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Godalming
Across Surrey council
Places available
13,004
Applications
11,426
Got 1st preference
89.8%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
7.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
198
Total Pupils
95
Boys
103
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
16.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,925
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,263
Per pupil
£1157k
Total funding
£27k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.4%
Overall absence
7.4%
Persistent absence
175
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Mary's Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Mary's Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 76% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Surrey allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 84% of its 240 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Classes at St Mary's Church of England Primary School average 28.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School has around 198 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
4.4% of sessions were missed at St Mary's Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 7.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Surrey's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's Church of England Primary School 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.
Does St Mary's Church of England Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Mary's Church of England Primary School: The Little Gym Godalming (220m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School is at Petworth Road, Chiddingfold, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 4UF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)