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Academy converter · Blackpool

St Mary's Catholic Academy

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,188Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Roman CatholicReligious character
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 141257URN

St Walburga's Road, Blackpool, FY3 7EQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jun 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.2per place
0.6 above Blackpool median (1.6)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Blackpool

453 applications for 204 places · 2nd of 8 in Blackpool
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
44.2of 90
2nd of 8 in Blackpool
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 16 June 2026Published 9 September 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 16 June 2026
    Report card · 6 Expected standard, 1 Needs attention
  2. 10 May 2022
    Graded inspection: 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
2.2applications per place, Year 7
0.6 above Blackpool median (1.6) close to England median (2.2)

453 applications · 204 places offered · 245 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 2.2; Blackpool median median 1.6
  2. 2025 2.2; Blackpool median median 1.7
  3. 2024 2.1; Blackpool median median 1.7
  4. 2023 2.2; Blackpool median median 1.8
  5. 2022 2.1; Blackpool median median 1.7
  6. 2021 2.4; Blackpool median median 2.0
  7. 2020 2.7; Blackpool median median 2.2
  8. 2019 2.6; Blackpool median median 2.1
  9. 2018 2.6; Blackpool median median 2.1
  10. 2017 2.6; Blackpool median median 1.8
  11. 2016 2.7; Blackpool median median 2.4
  12. 2015 2.5; Blackpool median median 2.4
  13. 2014 2.3; Blackpool median median 1.6; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Blackpool median in 12 of 12 years.
  • This school
  • Blackpool median

Dashed bars: as St Mary's Catholic College (URN 119778), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262044532.22451.20
Sep 20252274892.22681.18
Sep 20242084392.12461.18
Sep 20232104642.22581.23
Sep 20222084342.12581.24
Sep 20212084932.42521.21
Sep 20202085662.72941.41
Sep 20192095442.62861.37
Sep 20182105402.62701.29
Sep 20172075312.62341.13
Sep 20162105632.72951.40
Sep 20151974862.52501.27
Sep 2014 *2114892.32431.15

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

203 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)44.22nd of 8 in Blackpool
Grade 5 or above in English and maths39%2nd of 8 in Blackpool
Grade 4 or above in English and maths61%
  • This school
  • Blackpool median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.70
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)20344.239%61%–
2024/2520841.529%55%–
2023/2420542.028%51%−0.70
2022/2319540.327%48%−0.76

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

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

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
141257 · 890/4601
Trust
The Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Capacity
1,199 pupils · 1,188 on roll
Free school meals
35.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2014
Replaced
St Mary's Catholic College (URN 119778)
Address
St Walburga's Road, Blackpool, FY3 7EQ
Local authority
Blackpool

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources