St Mary's CofE Primary School, Hereford

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades St Mary's CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has improved over time and is a positive feature of the school's work."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have revised the early years curriculum to reflect recent changes in the age of children who attend."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Inclusion is central to the school's ethos."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have reviewed the school's offer to ensure that it promotes pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Some pupils have not secured the basic knowledge that they need in handwriting, spelling, grammar and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Pupils learn to read through the school's phonics programme."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders recognise the need to strengthen how effectively the curriculum builds and deepens pupils' knowledge."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching prioritises the foundations of reading, spelling, handwriting and mathematics so that pupils develop secure knowledge that prepares them for future learning"; "Leaders should ensure that checks on pupils' learning are more precise and focus on identifying and addressing pupils' errors and misconceptions promptly"; "Leaders should strengthen the quality of monitoring arrangements so that actions to improve the curriculum lead to more rapid and sustained improvements in pupils' academic outcomes".

From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to our school! I am proud to be the headteacher here and I very much enjoy leading such a fantastic school! A rich education is more than simply learning reading, writing and maths. It is about helping a child grow into their full potential as inquisitive, well balanced and cheerful adults."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, Lego and gardening.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 77% in Herefordshire, County of; and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (67% in reading, 56% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put St Mary's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 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 Primary School are Mordiford CofE Primary School (2 miles, Good, 80% reading, 75% maths); Little Dewchurch CofE Primary School (3.3 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 100% maths); King's Caple Primary Academy (3.5 miles, Outstanding); and Lugwardine Primary Academy (4.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Mary's CofE Primary School.

10.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 15 pupils (17.9%) received SEN support and 2 (2.4%) 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.

St Mary's CofE Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more 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 Primary School.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church (opposite), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Herefordshire, County of (4).

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