St Mary's CofE Primary School
| Type | Primary / Voluntary aided school |
| Age Range | 3-11 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Dollis Park Finchley London N3 1BT |
| Phone | 02083430866 |
| Reference Number | 101323 |
St Mary's CofE Primary School is a larger-than-average Church of England primary school in Finchley. Inspectors found the school performing strongly in most areas: pupils achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics, with national assessment outcomes above averages over time, and they apply their knowledge confidently across the curriculum. The curriculum is ambitious and well sequenced, reading and mathematics are taught effectively, and pupils with SEND are supported precisely so they progress well from their starting points. The early years provision is a notable strength, with a strong focus on language, early reading, writing and mathematics, and children settle quickly and make positive progress. Inclusion is highly effective, with tailored support, therapeutic and wellbeing help, and strong use of additional funding. Leadership and governance are also strong: leaders know the school well, staff feel supported, and governors provide effective oversight. Pupils benefit from a rich personal development programme, extensive enrichment and meaningful leadership roles, and attendance is above national averages. Safeguarding standards are met. Attendance and behaviour are at the expected standard rather than strong. Behaviour is generally positive and pupils feel safe, but the school's routines and expectations to promote readiness for learning are not yet consistently embedded. This is the main next step identified by inspectors. The school has joint heads of school and a relatively new inclusion lead, and it serves a pupil population with below-average free school meals and EHC plan rates but a slightly above-average proportion of pupils with SEN support.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 431 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 49.65%
Girls: 50.35% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 9.9% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 61.9% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 26.8 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 27 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 28.9 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | 18 | 47 |
| 2 | 28 | 30 | 58 |
| 3 | 25 | 28 | 53 |
| 4 | 29 | 30 | 59 |
| 5 | 27 | 33 | 60 |
| 6 | 30 | 29 | 59 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, Other | 22.7% |
| White, British | 19.5% |
| Asian, Other | 10.4% |
| Mixed, Other | 7.7% |
| White & Asian | 7.2% |
| Chinese | 6.3% |
| African | 4.9% |
| Indian | 4.4% |
| Pakistani | 1.9% |
| Caribbean | 1.2% |
| Unclassified | 0.9% |
| Irish | 0.7% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.5% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.5% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Expected standard |
| > Leadership & Governance | Strong standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Strong standard |
| > Achievement | Strong standard |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Expected standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Strong standard |
| > Inclusion | Strong standard |
| > Early Years | Strong standard |
| Last Report Date | 06 May 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 06 May 2026 | School inspection |
| 24 Nov 2021 | School inspection |
| 15 Nov 2011 | Full inspection |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 13 Nov 2006 | Full inspection |
| 31 Jan 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils achieve above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics over time.
- Pupils with SEND make consistently secure progress from their starting points.
- An ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum is sequenced precisely across subjects.
- Reading and phonics are prioritised, taught systematically, with timely targeted support.
- Mathematics teaching builds secure understanding and quickly corrects misunderstandings.
- Early years provision adapts well to EAL and complex needs and prepares children well for Year 1.
- Inclusion is highly effective, with tailored strategies and integrated therapeutic and wellbeing support.
- Leaders know the school's strengths and priorities and act in pupils' best interests.
- Staff feel well supported through professional development, workload and wellbeing support.
- Governance provides effective strategic oversight and holds leaders to account.
- Personal development is rich, with 'Big Ideas', PSHE, leadership roles and extensive enrichment.
- Attendance is above national averages and supported promptly for families and mid-year joiners.
- Pupils feel safe, behave well and say unkind behaviour is dealt with promptly and fairly.
- Pupils are confident, articulate and very well prepared for the next stage of education.
Areas for Improvement
- Routines and expectations to promote pupils' readiness for learning are not yet consistently embedded across the school.
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 82% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 25% |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 109 | ||
| Maths | 109 |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 2.6 | ||
| Writing | 0.4 | ||
| Maths | 3.2 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockAverage Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
UnlockUnlock Premium
Get percentile rankings, historic result charts, admissions data, and post-GCSE destinations for every school.
£9.99 one-off payment. Lifetime access, no subscription.
Unlock for £9.992026 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 34 | 4 |
| Third Preference | 15 | 1 |
| From another Local Authority | 2 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Finchley and Acton Yochien School
6 Hendon Avenue, Finchley, London, N3 1UE |
0.31 miles |
|
Pardes House Primary School
Hendon Lane, Pardes House Primary School, London, Middlesex, N3 1SA |
0.32 miles |
|
Millbrook Park Primary School
School House Lane, London, NW7 1JF |
0.51 miles |
|
Akiva School
80 East End Road, London, N3 2SY |
0.74 miles |
|
Moss Hall Junior School
187 Nether Street, Finchley, Moss Hall Grove, London, N3 1NR |
0.75 miles |
|
Moss Hall Infant School
Moss Hall Grove, Finchley, London, N12 8PE |
0.75 miles |
|
Moss Hall Nursery School
189 Nether Street, London, N3 1NR |
0.76 miles |
|
St Theresa's Catholic Primary School
East End Road, Finchley, London, N3 2TD |
0.79 miles |
|
Frith Manor Primary School
Lullington Garth, Woodside Park, London, N12 7BN |
0.79 miles |
|
Manorside Primary School
Squires Lane, Finchley, London, N3 2AB |
0.84 miles |
|
Chalgrove Primary School
Chalgrove Gardens, Finchley, London, N3 3PL |
0.86 miles |
|
Tudor Primary School
Queen's Road, Finchley, London, N3 2AG |
0.99 miles |
|
Our Lady of Lourdes RC School
Bow Lane, Finchley, London, N12 0JP |
1.04 miles |
|
Brookland Junior School
Hill Top, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, NW11 6EJ |
1.05 miles |
|
Brookland Infant and Nursery School
Hill Top, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Hill Top, Hampstead Garden Suburb, NW11 6EJ |
1.05 miles |
|
Dollis Primary School
Pursley Road, Mill Hill, London, NW7 2BU |
1.09 miles |
|
Hendon Preparatory School
20 Tenterden Grove, Hendon, London, NW4 1TD |
1.13 miles |
|
The London Mechina
Woodside Park Synagogue, Woodside Park Road, London, N12 8RZ |
1.18 miles |
|
Nancy Reuben Primary School
48 Finchley Lane, Hendon, London |
1.23 miles |
|
Northside Primary School
2 Albert Street, North Finchley, London, N12 8JP |
1.24 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Pardes House Grammar School
Hendon Lane, Finchley, London, N3 1SA |
0.32 miles |
|
Hasmonean High School for Boys
Holders Hill Road, Hendon, London, NW4 1NA |
0.79 miles |
|
Christ's College Finchley
East End Road, East Finchley, London, N2 0SE |
1.03 miles |
|
Kisharon School
54 Parson Street, LONDON, NW4 1TP |
1.04 miles |
|
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School
Nether Street, North Finchley, London, N12 7NJ |
1.11 miles |
|
Bishop Douglass School Finchley
Hamilton Road, East Finchley, London, N2 0SQ |
1.14 miles |
|
Kisharon College
54 Parson Street, Hendon, London, NW4 1TP |
1.15 miles |
|
The Holmewood School
88 Woodside Park Road, London, N12 8SH |
1.2 miles |
|
Oak Lodge School
Heath View, East Finchley, London, N2 0QY |
1.36 miles |
|
Beth Jacob Grammar School for Girls
Stratford Road, Hendon, London, NW4 2AT |
1.37 miles |
|
St Mary's and St John's CofE School
Bennett House, Sunningfields Road, Hendon, London, NW4 4QR |
1.4 miles |
|
Brampton College
Lodge House, Lodge Road, Hendon, London, NW4 4DQ |
1.4 miles |
|
Hasmonean High School for Girls
2 - 4 Page Street, Mill Hill, London, NW7 2EU |
1.43 miles |
|
Copthall School
Pursley Road, Mill Hill, London, NW7 2EP |
1.44 miles |
|
Hendon School
Golders Rise, Hendon, London, NW4 2HP |
1.45 miles |
|
Woodhouse College
Woodhouse Road, London, N12 9EY |
1.45 miles |
|
Imperial College London Mathematics School
C/O Woodhouse College, Woodhouse Road, London, N12 9EY |
1.45 miles |
|
Talmud Torah Tiferes Shlomo
Danescroft Avenue, London, London, NW4 2NB |
1.48 miles |
|
Lubavitch Yeshiva Ketanah of London
1117 Finchely Road, London, NW11 0QB |
1.49 miles |
|
Wren Academy Finchley
Hilton Avenue, North Finchley, London, N12 9HB |
1.51 miles |