St Mary's CofE First Academy, Wheaton Aston

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades St Mary's CofE First Academy on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The school's positive culture encourages pupils to attend regularly."

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders place the early years at the heart of the school and show a clear understanding of how young children learn best."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well because they develop secure foundational knowledge across reading, writing and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of teaching and the curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders know pupils and their families extremely well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate a culture of high expectations, professionalism and continuous improvement that is visible across the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders take a thoughtful and strategic approach to personal development and wellbeing, making it a visible part of daily school life."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching in the foundation subjects is consistently effective and that teachers adapt learning effectively across the wider curriculum so that pupils build secure knowledge"; "Leaders should further strengthen the personal development offer so that pupils gain a broader understanding of different faiths and cultures".

For September 2026 entry, 14 families put St Mary's CofE First Academy as their first choice and 18 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 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 CofE First Academy are St John's CofE First School (2.5 miles, Good); Church Eaton Primary School (2.8 miles, Requires improvement, 83% reading, 83% maths); St Mary's Catholic Primary School (3 miles, Good, 86% reading, 86% maths); and St Mary and St Chad CofE First School (3.4 miles, Good).

St Mary's CofE First Academy is one of 19 schools run by St Chad's Academies Trust, an academy trust.

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

In 2026, 10 pupils (11.9%) received SEN support and 6 (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 a moderate learning difficulty.

St Mary's CofE First Academy had 2 teachers in 2026, one for every 38 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Mary's CofE First Academy.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pinfold Lane (opposite), 350 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 11 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86).

In 2024/25, St Mary's CofE First Academy issued 1 suspension, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.