St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast
| Type | Primary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 3-11 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Buckfast Road Buckfast Buckfastleigh Devon TQ11 0EA |
| Phone | 01364642389 |
| Reference Number | 140774 |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School is performing reasonably well but has several areas requiring improvement. The school boasts an inclusive ethos, effectively accommodating disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The early years are particularly strong, with children receiving high-quality support, enabling them to develop essential skills. However, inconsistencies in teaching practices have led to uneven progress among some pupils across different subjects. Leaders recognize the need for a more cohesive approach to ensure all students receive the necessary support to succeed.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 163 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 52.76%
Girls: 47.24% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 39.3% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 0% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 8 | 20 |
| 2 | 14 | 12 | 26 |
| 3 | 9 | 11 | 20 |
| 4 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 5 | 10 | 11 | 21 |
| 6 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 93.9% |
| White & Asian | 2.5% |
| White, Other | 1.8% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.2% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Needs attention |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Expected standard |
| > Achievement | Needs attention |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Needs attention |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Needs attention |
| > Inclusion | Expected standard |
| > Early Years | Expected standard |
| Last Report Date | 03 Feb 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 03 Feb 2026 | School inspection |
| 17 Nov 2021 | School inspection |
| 11 Oct 2016 | Full inspection |
| 03 Apr 2014 | Academy conversion letter |
| 25 May 2011 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast | |
| 25 May 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 03 Oct 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 03 Oct 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 06 Nov 2002 | Full inspection |
| 06 Nov 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong inclusive ethos supporting disadvantaged and SEND pupils.
- Early years education is of high quality, fostering confident learners.
- Effective personal development and well-being programs enhancing pupils' growth.
- Pupils enjoy a wide range of extracurricular activities that enrich their education.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistencies in teaching leading to uneven progress for some pupils.
- Behaviour expectations not consistently applied, resulting in low-level disruption.
- Leaders have not adequately identified and addressed teaching inconsistencies.
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 61% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% |
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 | 104 | ||
| Maths | 100 |
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 | 1.8 | ||
| Writing | 2.5 | ||
| Maths | -2.4 |
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
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 2 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 2 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Buckfastleigh Primary School
Bossell Road, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0DD |
0.77 miles |
|
Ashburton Primary School
Whistley Hill, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 7DW |
1.93 miles |
|
Landscove Church of England Primary School
Landscove, Nr Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7LY |
2.19 miles |
|
Broadhempston Village Primary School
Broadhempston, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6BL |
3.84 miles |
|
Dartington Church of England Academy
Shinners Bridge, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6JU |
4.14 miles |
|
St Christophers School
Mount Barton, Staverton, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6PF |
4.22 miles |
|
Park School
Park School, Park Road, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EQ |
4.62 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Sands School
48 East Street, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 7AX |
1.97 miles |
|
South Dartmoor Community College
Balland Lane, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7EW |
2.62 miles |
|
South Devon Steiner School
Hood Manor, Dartington, Totnes, TQ9 6AB |
3.21 miles |
|
On Track Education West Yarner
West Yarner, Dun Cross, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6DX |
4.05 miles |
|
Redwood River School
Old Postern, The Dartington Estate, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EA |
4.1 miles |
|
Bidwell Brook School
Shinner's Bridge, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6JU |
4.14 miles |