St Mary's RC Primary School, Horwich, Bolton
St Mary's RC Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Horwich, Bolton. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 63rd-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 9,595th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 103% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary's RC Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's RC Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 91% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's RC Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 30 families put St Mary's RC Primary School as their first choice and 72 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary's RC Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's RC Primary School are Chorley New Road Primary Academy (under 0.1 miles, 78% reading, 73% maths); Horwich Parish CofE Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 80% reading, 88% maths); Claypool Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 59% reading, 45% maths); and St Catherine's CofE Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths).
St Mary's RC Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Chorley New Road Primary AcademyHorwich Parish CofE Primary SchoolClaypool Primary SchoolSt Catherine's CofE Primary School
What parents say
65 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's RC Primary School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (59%).
Who goes there
15% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (72%), Mixed (11%) and Black (9%).
In 2026, 26 pupils (12.1%) received SEN support and 4 (1.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Horwich Parkway Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Mary's Primary School (outside), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Mary's RC Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Mary's RC Primary School are St Joseph's RC High School (0.4 miles) and Rivington and Blackrod High School (1.5 miles).
St Joseph's RC High SchoolRivington and Blackrod High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Mary's creates a happy, welcoming environment where all children flourish and gain confidence. Teaching is enthusiastic and clear, helping pupils - including those with SEND - achieve well across a wide range of subjects. The school goes beyond the classroom with exceptional enrichment opportunities like orchestra visits and museum trips, inspiring pupils to see exciting possibilities for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on early reading, writing and mathematics with pupils achieving significantly above national average by end of key stage 2
- Warm, welcoming culture where pupils work harmoniously together and take on leadership roles with pride
- Impressive range of enrichment activities including visits to orchestras, art galleries and museums that broaden pupils' horizons
- Effective behaviour and attendance systems with pupils' behaviour reflecting school values
- Governors perform their roles very effectively and staff feel well supported
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects lack consistent connections between earlier learning and new content, which hampers pupils building deep knowledge over time
- Support for pupils with SEND is not tailored closely enough to individual needs, limiting their progress
- Previous Year 1 phonics screening results were significantly below national average (though school has taken action to address this)
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Visits to Hallé and Philharmonic orchestra, art galleries and museums, Parliament Day, World Book Day events, diverse range of extra-curricular clubs, breakfast club, after-school club
St Mary's RC Primary School is a happy, welcoming school where pupils are proud to attend and flourish in confidence. The school has maintained its good standards with effective teaching and strong pupil achievement, though there are areas for development in curriculum consistency and support for pupils with SEND.
At a Glance
15.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
65 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 declined from 91% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 81% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 81% to 72% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.0
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
30.5
KS2
5
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 RC Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary's RC Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's RC Primary School is in Bolton; for families living there:
Apply to Bolton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 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 RC Primary School
Will you get a place at St Mary's RC Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary's RC Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary's RC Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary's RC Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bolton, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary's RC Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bolton 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
103%
Over capacity
216 pupils
210 places
6 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Horwich, Bolton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Horwich, Bolton
Across Bolton council
Places available
4,015
Applications
3,455
Got 1st preference
89.5%
Got preferred school
96.8%
All primary applications across Bolton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(5)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
26
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
14.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
214
Total Pupils
94
Boys
120
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
21.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,924
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,240
Per pupil
£1231k
Total funding
£39k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
6.8%
Persistent absence
191
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 RC Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Mary's RC Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Mary's RC Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Mary's RC Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's RC Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's RC Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's RC Primary School is oversubscribed, Bolton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's RC Primary School?
St Mary's RC Primary School was full in 2025, at 103% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Mary's RC Primary School?
Classes at St Mary's RC Primary School average 30 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 RC Primary School?
St Mary's RC Primary School has around 214 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's RC Primary School?
4.7% of sessions were missed at St Mary's RC Primary School in 2024/25. 6.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's RC Primary School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's RC 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.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's RC Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary's RC Primary School?
St Mary's RC Primary School is at Victoria Road, Horwich, Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire, BL6 6EP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)