Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy

Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy has shown significant improvement since its last inspection, achieving a 'Good' rating across all inspected areas. The school is recognized for its positive atmosphere, strong community ties, and well-behaved pupils who contribute to a nurturing learning environment. However, the school faces challenges with some pupils' attendance and a need for clearer instructional delivery to ensure all students retain important knowledge over time.

Strengths

• Strong community involvement and support.
• Excellent pupil behavior and high engagement in lessons.
• Effective curriculum with a focus on early reading.
• Well-supported pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Some teachers do not present information clearly, affecting knowledge retention.
• Increasing number of pupils missing school regularly.

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 Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy attended 93.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 20.1% 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, 4.3% of pupils at Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy 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 Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy had 20.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 26.1% 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, 14.0% of pupils at Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 2024–25 Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy received £7,928 and spent £6,803 for each of its 196 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £0 (£0 per pupil).

Across all 38 schools of Grace Schools, income was £7,113 and spending £6,207 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Wisbech · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications

Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy is part of Grace Schools, which runs 38 schools. The nearest others:

• Guyhirn CofE VC Primary School Wisbech
• Elm CofE Primary School Wisbech
• Orchards Church of England Academy Wisbech
• St Peter's CofE Aided Junior School Wisbech
• Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School Wisbech
• Anthony Curton CofE Primary School Wisbech
• Tilney All Saints CofE Primary School King'S Lynn
• Holy Cross Church of England Primary School King'S Lynn
• Hilgay Riverside Academy Downham Market
• Stanground St Johns CofE Primary School Peterborough

What is Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy have?

Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy has 193 pupils on roll.

What age range does Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy cover?

Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy?

Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy is at Church Road, Wisbech St Mary, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 4RJ.