St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Stafford Review 2026: High-performing small primary with nursery provision in Brewood

A small Catholic primary in Brewood, St Mary’s combines a traditional village school feel with unusually strong Key Stage 2 outcomes for its size. The original school building dates from 1833 and was designed by A W N Pugin, a rare architectural footnote for a state primary and a clue to how closely school and parish life have historically intertwined here.

Leadership sits with Mrs Jennifer-Claire Lockley (Principal). The school day runs from 8.50am registration to a 3.30pm finish, with wraparound care available for families who need it.

Academically, the school’s primary outcomes are well above the England picture in the most recent published data. For families wanting a values-led Catholic education, plus high expectations in reading and maths, the main constraint is availability, demand runs ahead of places.

St Mary’s presents itself in the language of love, respect and care, and that tone is reinforced by the way Catholic life is described as part of the everyday experience rather than an occasional add-on. Links with the parish community and regular Mass are positioned as normal features of school life, alongside charitable work supported through organisations including CAFOD, Mary’s Meals, and The Good Shepherd Appeal.

Scale shapes almost everything. Capacity is 106 pupils, with a smaller roll reported in recent official snapshots, so it is the kind of school where staff are likely to know families well and where older pupils often take visible responsibility. That intimacy can be a real advantage for children who thrive on consistency and for parents who value a close relationship with staff.

The physical setting is also distinctive. Historic England records the school as built in 1833 to an ecclesiastical style, designed by A W N Pugin. The school website also describes extensive grounds, which matters in practical terms for early years play, sports, and the general feel of breaktimes.

Nursery provision, integrated rather than bolted on

Nursery provision is part of the school’s offer from age 2 to 4, organised into two groups across different classrooms, Ladybirds and Bumblebees. The nursery approach is described in thoughtful, modern early years language: learning planned through enhanced provision; adults building activities from children’s interests and individual learning journeys; and the environment framed as a “third educator” to promote independence and sustained shared thinking.

Funding matters to many families at this stage and the school states that 15 and 30 hour funding is available. (For nursery fee details beyond funded hours, the school directs families to its own channels.)

St Mary’s primary outcomes sit comfortably above the England averages in the most recent published dataset.

In 2024, 94.7% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 48.7% achieved greater depth, compared with an England average of 8%. These figures suggest not only secure fundamentals, but also a meaningful proportion working beyond the expected level.

Reading looks like a particular strength. The average scaled score in reading was 110, with 100% reaching the expected standard and 46% reaching the higher standard threshold. Grammar, punctuation and spelling was also strong, with an average scaled score of 110 and 92% meeting the expected standard.

Rankings context (FindMySchool, based on official data)

Ranked 873rd in England and 7th in Stafford for primary outcomes. This equates to outperforming around 90% of schools in England (top 10%).

For parents comparing local options, it is worth using the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tools to view these results alongside nearby primaries, especially when you are weighing school size, wraparound, and faith ethos against academic outcomes.

High results are rarely accidental at primary level, they usually reflect daily routines that are consistent across classrooms, plus an approach to assessment that is used to adapt teaching rather than simply to record it.

The strongest evidence from external evaluation highlights ambitious curriculum thinking and a clear emphasis on reading. Pupils are taught phonics and early reading through staff who receive regular training, with reading books closely matched to the sounds pupils are learning, which helps prevent gaps from appearing early.

Maths is described as well taught, with activities that encourage reasoning and problem solving rather than only practice. For families, the practical implication is that children who enjoy explanation and challenge are likely to find plenty of stretch, while those who need confidence building should still see structured teaching and recap of prior learning.

A useful nuance for parents is the small-school class structure. Staffing information indicates mixed-age classes (for example, combined Year 1 and Year 2; combined Year 3 and Year 4; combined Year 5 and Year 6). In strong mixed-age teaching, this becomes an advantage, younger pupils learn from older peers and older pupils consolidate by explaining. It does, however, depend on careful planning, so it is sensible to ask how planning is organised across a two-year curriculum cycle.

Because Brewood sits near several secondary routes, transition choices can look quite varied from year to year.

The school states that, over the past five years, destinations have included local middle schools (40%), independent schools (21%), Catholic high school (15%), state-funded grammar schools (9%), maintained high school (7%), other middle schools (5%), and special provision (1%). It also lists a range of specific destinations, including Brewood Middle, Penkridge Middle, Codsall Middle, Blessed William Howard Catholic High School, Wolverhampton Grammar School, Haberdasher Adams High School, and Thomas Telford.

Two implications flow from this. First, the school appears used to supporting families across multiple pathways, not only a single default feeder. Second, there is likely to be at least some grammar and independent school interest within the parent body, which can influence how families talk about Year 5 and Year 6 preparation. The school’s own message is that each child’s journey is different, and practical support is part of transition planning.

St Mary’s is a state-funded school with no tuition fees. Reception admissions are coordinated through Staffordshire County Council rather than direct allocation by the school.

Key dates for September 2026 entry are published clearly: applications open on 1 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026. National offer day for primary places is communicated as 16 April 2026 (or the next working day).

Demand, based on the available admissions dataset, is material for a small school: 24 applications for 8 offers, which is about 3 applications per place, and the entry route is marked oversubscribed. Families considering St Mary’s should take admissions seriously early, especially if they are relying on a place as their first choice.

As a Catholic school, it is also sensible to read the current admissions policy carefully and to check whether any supplementary forms or faith evidence is needed for priority categories in oversubscription, particularly if you are applying from outside the immediate area.

Parents can use FindMySchoolMap Search to sanity-check practical travel distance and day-to-day logistics, even where published “last distance offered” figures are not available for the relevant year.

Small schools often succeed pastorally when expectations are clear and adults respond quickly. The most recent external evidence describes pupils as happy, feeling safe, and proud of their school, with behaviour expectations that are high and consistently reinforced.

The school also describes Catholic life as rooted in Gospel values and Catholic social teaching, with children taught to care for creation and to serve the common good. In practice, this typically shows up in assemblies, charity activity, pupil responsibilities, and the way disagreements are handled, parents who want a values-led approach usually find that coherence reassuring.

The latest Ofsted inspection confirmed safeguarding arrangements were effective.

For a small primary, the range of enrichment described is a key differentiator. The most recent inspection evidence points to clubs, visitors, trips, and residentials as part of pupils’ wider experience, with examples including a dinosaur workshop, work with a visiting artist and sculptor, and a Year 6 trip connected to Second World War learning.

Current school-published examples of structured enrichment include Football Club, Running Club, and a Year 6 SATs Booster Club, alongside lighter-touch options such as Fun Fridays. The school also highlights pupil responsibilities such as play leaders and librarians, which can be particularly valuable in small settings where leadership roles are visible and meaningful.

Wraparound provision also sits within the broader experience. The school’s Happy Days club describes breakfast and activities before school, plus after-school sessions through to early evening, which can make a practical difference for working families and can also broaden children’s friendship groups beyond their class.

Gates open at 8.45am for 8.50am registration; school finishes at 3.30pm. Wraparound care is available through Happy Days from 7.30am to 8.45am and from 3.30pm to 6.00pm during term time.

For transport, most families will be thinking in terms of village walkability, local parking realities, and short car journeys rather than major rail commuting. If you are planning a move, it is sensible to test the route at peak times and to factor in wraparound collection windows if you expect to use them regularly.

• Small school dynamics. With a modest overall size, friendship groups can be tight-knit and class mixes can be stable. This suits many children, but those who want very broad year-group social choice may prefer a larger setting.

• Mixed-age classes. Staffing information indicates combined year groups (for example, Year 1 and Year 2 together). This can be highly effective, but it depends on clear long-term planning, so it is worth asking how curriculum coverage is sequenced over a two-year cycle.

• Oversubscription pressure. For a small intake, even modest application numbers can translate into real competition. Submit on time, understand the oversubscription criteria, and keep realistic alternative preferences in play.

• Catholic life is central. The school welcomes families of all faiths and none, but it is open about parish links, Mass, and Gospel values shaping daily life. Families should ensure that level of faith integration feels comfortable.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Stafford is a high-performing small primary where reading and maths outcomes sit well above the England averages, and where nursery provision makes it viable as an early start for families who want continuity through to Year 6. The best fit is for parents who value a Catholic ethos, a close-knit school community, and strong academic expectations in a small setting. The limiting factor is admission rather than the quality of education once a place is secured.