St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance, Penzance
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Penzance. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 18th-highest of the 18 schools in Penzance with published results, and 12,897th of 14,452 across England. It was 62% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cornwall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance in detail
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance in its own words
In its own words: "St. Mary's is a 5 class Church of England Primary school situated near to the promenade in Penzance. We have our own nursery that is part of our Early Years Foundation stage unit. I feel privileged and honored to be head teacher of St. Mary's C of E School. Our children are friendly, polite, helpful and enthusiastic about their learning."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £3 per session.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance reached the expected standard in reading and 47% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (68% in reading, 52% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance
For September 2026 entry, 10 families put St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance as their first choice and 22 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance are Alverton Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 84% reading, 81% maths); Newlyn School (0.6 miles, Good, 87% reading, 83% maths); Pensans Community Primary School (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, 58% reading, 67% maths); and St Mary's Catholic School, Penzance (0.9 miles, Good, 67% reading, 71% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance.
Alverton Primary SchoolNewlyn SchoolPensans Community Primary SchoolSt Mary's Catholic School, Penzance
Who goes there
34% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Asian (7%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Penzance Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bottom of Alexandra Road (se-bound), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 167 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance are Humphry Davy School (0.8 miles) and Mounts Bay Academy (1.2 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from June 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2012 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
34.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 68% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 52% to 47% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.8
Avg class size
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance
Term dates
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Cornwall's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance is in Cornwall; for families living there:
- Cornwall's school travel policy: Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2026/27
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
4 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 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 CofE Primary School, Penzance
Will you get a place at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cornwall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Cornwall 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
62%
Available places
130 pupils
210 places
80 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Penzance
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Penzance
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,475
Applications
4,732
Got 1st preference
95.9%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
23
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
19.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
141
Total Pupils
77
Boys
64
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
20.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,594
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,139
Per pupil
£903k
Total funding
£73k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.7%
Overall absence
23.7%
Persistent absence
118
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance
Questions parents ask about St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance
What are SATs results like at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
Of the pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 47% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance is oversubscribed, Cornwall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance was not full in 2025: it ran at 62% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
Classes at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance average 25.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance has around 141 pupils on roll. 34% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
6.7% of sessions were missed at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance in 2024/25. 23.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance 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.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 4 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance?
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Penzance is at Redinnick Place, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4HP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)