St Mary's RC Primary School, Horwich, Bolton
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
St Mary's excels at putting reading at the heart of learning, with pupils developing strong reading skills from Reception onwards. The school creates a warm, welcoming environment where pupils feel cared for and supported, with excellent enrichment activities including trips and sports. Staff are well-supported and engaged, and the curriculum helps pupils develop as thoughtful, healthy individuals who understand and appreciate diversity.
Key Strengths
- Reading is excellent - pupils meet phonics screening checks well above national average and leave school as confident, fluent readers
- Staff provide strong support for all pupils, including those with special educational needs, helping them achieve above national averages
- Wide range of practical, engaging learning activities across subjects with well-planned trips and experiences
- Good behaviour and positive relationships - pupils describe teachers as kind and helpful
- Pupils develop character through leadership roles and activities like charitable fundraising and residential trips
Areas for Improvement
- Some curriculum plans lack detail about the knowledge and skills pupils should learn
- Teachers need better understanding of how curriculum progresses across year groups and key stages
- Assessment systems need improvement in some subjects so teachers can identify gaps in pupils' learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective - staff receive regular training, leaders work with professionals to support pupils, and pupils learn how to stay safe including online safety and road safety.
Extracurricular Activities
French trips (including chateau stays and French markets), residential trips with climbing and archery, netball, cricket, cross-country running, meditation sessions, science activities led by science ambassadors, charitable fundraising, visits to elderly residents, road safety ambassador roles, pupil chaplain roles
St Mary's RC Primary School is a happy and welcoming primary school where pupils enjoy learning and achieve well. The school has been judged as Good overall, with strong performance in reading and a broad, engaging curriculum.
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 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 91% to 75%. Maths has declined from 81% to 69%. Writing has declined from 81% to 72%.
Class Sizes
30.8
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
32.0
KS2
6
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
214 pupils
218 capacity
4 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Horwich, Bolton
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Horwich, Bolton
Admissions Demand - Bolton
Places available
4,105
Applications
3,501
Got 1st preference
89.7%
Got preferred school
97.6%
Primary admissions across Bolton (2025/26)
Inspection History(105)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.68746%
Overall absence
6.80628%
Persistent absence
191
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Mary's RC Primary School
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