Academy converter · Dorset

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage

4–11Ages
175Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
140780URN

Northbrook Road, Swanage, BH19 1QE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

0.5 below Dorset median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Dorset

44 applications for 27 places · 56th of 80 in Dorset

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

65%met the expected standard

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 22 June 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.6applications per place, Reception

0.5 below Dorset median (2.1) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

44 applications · 27 places offered · 27 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.6; Dorset median median 2.1
2025 1.8; Dorset median median 2.0
2024 1.9; Dorset median median 2.1
2023 1.5; Dorset median median 2.0
2022 2.3; Dorset median median 2.0
2021 2.0; Dorset median median 2.0
2020 1.8; Dorset median median 1.9
2019 1.9; Dorset median median 2.1
2018 1.9; Dorset median median 2.0
2017 2.0; Dorset median median 2.0
2016 1.9; Dorset median median 2.0
2015 2.0; Dorset median median 1.9
2014 2.3; Dorset median median 1.8; as the previous school

This school
Dorset median

Dashed bars: as St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Swanage (URN 113829), the previous school.

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	27	44	1.6	27	1.00
Sep 2025	20	36	1.8	20	1.00
Sep 2024	20	38	1.9	20	1.00
Sep 2023	26	40	1.5	26	1.00
Sep 2022	16	37	2.3	16	1.00
Sep 2021	21	42	2.0	20	0.95
Sep 2020	21	38	1.8	21	1.00
Sep 2019	24	46	1.9	24	1.00
Sep 2018	30	57	1.9	33	1.10
Sep 2017	30	60	2.0	32	1.07
Sep 2016	22	42	1.9	22	1.00
Sep 2015	24	49	2.0	24	1.00
Sep 2014 *	16	37	2.3	16	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 90% · Writing 77% · Maths 87% → all three 65% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard65%22nd of 78 in Dorset

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard90%

Dorset 73% England 78%

Higher standard35%

Dorset 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard77%

Dorset 71% England 75%

Greater depth3%

Dorset 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard87%

Dorset 68% England 77%

Higher standard39%

Dorset 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Dorset median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	65%	0%	107	107
2023/24	75%	11%	107	108
2022/23	61%	0%	106	105

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, SwanageThis school
This school

Good2022

1.6applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Swanage Primary School
1.7 km · Dorset

Good2019

1.8applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Swanage St Mark's Church of England Primary School
1.8 km · Dorset

Remains Good2024

6.5applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
St George's Church of England Primary School, Langton Matravers
3.0 km · Dorset

Good2023

2.5applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Corfe Castle Church of England Primary School
6.4 km · Dorset

Good2023

1.4applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Lilliput Church of England Infant School
9.9 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Good2023

2.3applications per place
Hamworthy Park Junior School
10.4 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Graded · no overall grade2025

50%met the SATs standard
Old Town Infant School and Nursery
10.5 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Improved significantly2025

2.5applications per place
Twin Sails Infant and Nursery School
10.7 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Standards maintained2025

1.5applications per place

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 140780 · 838/3406
Trust: Plymouth Cast
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 210 pupils · 175 on roll
Free school meals: 17.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2014
Replaced: St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Swanage (URN 113829)
Address: Northbrook Road, Swanage, BH19 1QE
Local authority: Dorset

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources