St Mary's CofE Primary School, Kingswinford

Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades St Mary's CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 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. "Leaders' work to improve attendance has had a significant impact."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a curriculum that meets the needs of pupils at the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a positive start in early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a highly inclusive culture."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "After the previous inspection, the school underwent a significant time without a substantive headteacher, causing a period of turbulence."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development programme supports the ethos and values of the school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils have gaps in their basic spelling and handwriting knowledge."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop the key knowledge they need in handwriting, spelling and mathematical facts across the school"; "Leaders should develop the consistency of the implementation of the school's curriculum and approach to teaching so that pupils develop detailed knowledge over time"; "Leaders should continue to develop systems for evaluating support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities so that support is highly responsive to pupils' changing needs"; "Leaders should ensure that opportunities for interactions in the early years are consistently maximised across the school day".

From the headteacher's welcome: "As the new headteacher, I am extremely proud to be leading such a dynamic and progressive school. At St Mary's we value meaningful relationships as we know that all children learn best when they are safe and happy, in a school where they are truly appreciated for who they are."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 59% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 75% in Dudley and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 48% in reading and 55% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 17 families put St Mary's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 60 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 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 Dawley Brook Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 69% reading, 59% maths); Blanford Mere Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 89% reading, 82% maths); Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, 80% reading, 80% maths); and Maidensbridge Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 97% reading, 83% maths).

St Mary's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

St Mary's CofE Primary School is one of 20 schools run by Elements Diocesan Learning Trust, an academy trust.

42 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's CofE Primary School (as of April 2026): 88% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Lye (West Midlands) Rail Station, about 3.6 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Back Road (adjacent), 170 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 76 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Dudley (212).

In 2024/25, St Mary's CofE Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 4.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Mary's CofE Primary School are Kingswinford Academy (0.1 miles), Summerhill School (0.7 miles) and The Crestwood School (1 mile).