Academy converter · Central Bedfordshire

St Mary's Catholic Primary School

2–11Ages
229Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
145324URN

Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, LU1 4BB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jul 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

0.7 below Central Bedfordshire median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Central Bedfordshire

41 applications for 28 places · 76th of 82 in Central Bedfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

62%met the expected standard

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 7 July 2026Published 15 September 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard
Inclusion		Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching			Expected standard
Achievement			Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour		Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Strong standard
Early years		Strong standard
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance		Strong 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

7 July 2026
Report card · 5 Strong standard, 2 Expected standard
26 April 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

1.5applications per place, Reception

0.7 below Central Bedfordshire median (2.1) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

41 applications · 28 places offered · 30 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 2.1
2025 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.9
2024 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2023 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2022 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2021 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2020 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2019 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2018 2.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2017 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
2016 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
2015 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7; as the previous school
2014 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6; as the previous school

This school
Central Bedfordshire median

Dashed bars: as St Mary's Catholic Primary School (URN 109630), 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	28	41	1.5	30	1.07
Sep 2025	27	38	1.4	28	1.04
Sep 2024	22	35	1.6	22	1.00
Sep 2023	27	37	1.4	23	0.85
Sep 2022	19	34	1.8	20	1.05
Sep 2021	25	34	1.4	25	1.00
Sep 2020	21	28	1.3	21	1.00
Sep 2019	30	40	1.3	33	1.10
Sep 2018	15	37	2.5	15	1.00
Sep 2017 *	27	38	1.4	27	1.00
Sep 2016 *	28	36	1.3	23	0.82
Sep 2015 *	24	35	1.5	24	1.00
Sep 2014 *	27	39	1.4	28	1.04

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 71% · Writing 76% · Maths 71% → all three 62% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard62%12th of 36 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard71%

Central Bedfordshire 72% England 78%

Higher standard24%

Central Bedfordshire 29% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard76%

Central Bedfordshire 71% England 75%

Greater depth14%

Central Bedfordshire 0% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard71%

Central Bedfordshire 67% England 77%

Higher standard24%

Central Bedfordshire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Central Bedfordshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	62%	14%	104	105
2023/24	63%	7%	104	105
2022/23	61%	4%	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 SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.5applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
St. Augustine's Academy
0.9 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
Ardley Hill Academy
1.4 km · Central Bedfordshire

Good2024

2.6applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
Watling Lower School
1.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Some aspects not as strong2024

4.1applications per place
St Christophers Academy
2.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 33%met the SATs standard
Lark Rise Academy
2.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.5applications per place 88%met the SATs standard
Hadrian Academy
2.1 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Dunstable Icknield Lower School
2.3 km · Central Bedfordshire

Requires improvement2023

2.3applications per place
The Vale Academy
2.4 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.3applications per place 73%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 145324 · 823/3346
Trust: St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 210 pupils · 229 on roll
Free school meals: 22.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 January 2018
Replaced: St Mary's Catholic Primary School (URN 109630)
Address: Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, LU1 4BB
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire

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