St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham
| Type | Primary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 4-9 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Hencotes Hexham Northumberland NE46 2EE |
| Reference Number | 148261 |
St Mary's Catholic First School is performing well overall, earning a 'Good' rating in all inspected areas. The school provides a supportive and nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and valued. The leadership has shown determination to improve the quality of education, particularly after recent staff changes. While the pupils exhibit strong behavior and are eager learners, there are some challenges with the curriculum delivery that need addressing, especially in subjects like science and history. The school is committed to ensuring that pupils, including those with special educational needs, receive the support they need to thrive academically and socially.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 92 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 52.17%
Girls: 47.83% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 18.5% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 8.7% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 18.4 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 18 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 19 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| 2 | 12 | 8 | 20 |
| 3 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 | 13 | 12 | 25 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 87% |
| White, Other | 5.4% |
| White & Asian | 3.3% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 1.1% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| > Early Years Provision | Good |
| Last Report Date | 11 Jul 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 11 Jul 2023 | School inspection: |
| 09 Dec 2020 | Academy conversion letter |
| 12 Nov 2019 | School inspection |
| Previously as St Mary's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided First School | |
| 12 Nov 2019 | School inspection |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Short inspection |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Short inspection |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Mar 2009 | Monitoring visit |
| 10 Mar 2009 | Monitoring visit |
| 19 Sep 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 19 Sep 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 24 Nov 2003 | Full inspection |
| 24 Nov 2003 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Positive and nurturing environment for pupils
- Strong relationships between staff and students
- High expectations from leaders and governors
- Broad and sequenced curriculum in place
- Effective support for pupils with SEND
- Strong emphasis on reading and phonics
- Pupils demonstrate a good understanding of mathematical concepts
- Engaging personal development curriculum
Areas for Improvement
- Writing curriculum does not align with phonics programme
- Inconsistent focus on key learning in some lessons
2025 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 7 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 2 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
The Sele First School
The Sele, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3QZ |
0.21 miles |
|
Hexham Middle School
Whetstone Bridge Road, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3JB |
0.26 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham
Highford Lane, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 2DD |
0.47 miles |
|
Hexham First School
Beaufront Avenue, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1JD |
0.69 miles |
|
Acomb First School
Bishops Hill, Main Street, Acomb, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4PL |
1.72 miles |
|
Beaufront First School
Sandhoe, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4LY |
2.18 miles |
|
Corbridge Middle School
Cow Lane, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5HX |
3.39 miles |
|
Whitley Chapel Church of England First School
Leazes Lane, Whitley Chapel, Steel, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 0HB |
3.77 miles |
|
Corbridge (VA) Church of England First School
St Helen's Lane, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5JQ |
3.78 miles |
|
Newbrough Church of England Primary School
Fourstones, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 5AQ |
4.07 miles |
|
Humshaugh Church of England First School
Humshaugh, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4AA |
4.53 miles |
|
Slaley First School
Slaley Village, Main Street, Slaley, Northumberland, NE47 0AA |
4.62 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Queen Elizabeth High School
Whetstone Bridge Road, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3JB |
0.48 miles |
|
Hexham Priory School
Corbridge Road, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1UY |
0.75 miles |