St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham

St Mary’s CofE Primary School, Amersham is a Church of England primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11, with 321 pupils on roll. This was its first section 5 graded inspection, following a section 8 inspection in 2020, and under current arrangements no overall effectiveness grade is awarded. Inspectors found a welcoming, inclusive school where pupils feel safe, behave well, achieve well and are proud of their school. Published key stage 2 outcomes were well above national averages, particularly in reading and mathematics.

Strengths

• Pupils receive a warm welcome and feel part of an inclusive school family
• Pupils respond well to high expectations for behaviour and treat others with respect
• Pupils achieve well, with strong key stage 2 outcomes in reading and mathematics
• Personal development provision is exceptional and provides extensive enrichment opportunities
• The school removes financial barriers so disadvantaged pupils can take part in activities
• Pupils take on a wide range of leadership responsibilities and develop character
• Nurture sessions in the school grounds build confidence, social skills and engagement
• The curriculum is ambitious, carefully structured and builds knowledge securely from early years to Year 6
• Teachers have strong subject knowledge and benefit from prioritised professional development
• SEND identification systems are effective and pupils with SEND are fully included in school life
• Reading is a top priority, with a well-structured phonics programme and targeted support
• Pupils have warm, caring relationships with staff and attendance is high
• Leaders and governors share a strong moral commitment and are well informed about school performance
• Staff feel well supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance
• Parents and carers are overwhelmingly supportive of the school
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils with SEND do not receive effective enough support in lessons, which impedes their learning and achievement

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham attended 96.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.3% of pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham had 20.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.5% of pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham received £7,148 and spent £7,031 for each of its 303 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £142,000 (£468 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Amersham · Buckinghamshire local authority: places and applications

What is St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.

When was St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham last inspected by Ofsted?

St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham was last inspected in September 2025.

How many pupils does St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham have?

St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham has 303 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham cover?

St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham?

St Mary's CofE Primary School, Amersham is at School Lane, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 0EL.