Latest News
Watch here for the very Latest News!! from St. Mary's.
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The countdown is on for our new CMAT!
Wed 10 Sep 2025Another significant announcement as we prepare for the late September’s launch - the Archdiocese of Birmingham shared a powerful mission statement to unite all schools, Multi-Academy Companies, and St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust:
‘Forming pilgrims of hope with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge, and a hunger for justice.’
Together, we walk as one community of faith, learning, and love.
#18daysandcounting
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St Mary’s Catholic Academy praised by Ofsted for pupil-focused approach and outstanding community ethos
Tue 25 Mar 2025We are proud to share the findings of our latest Ofsted inspection, which highlights the strong sense of community and high standards that continue to define St Mary’s Catholic Academy in Leek.
Following an ungraded two-day inspection in January 2024, inspectors confirmed that we have maintained our ‘Good’ rating — first awarded in 2016 — and praised the effective action we’ve taken since then to uphold and build upon our standards.
Inspectors recognised that every decision made at St Mary’s is grounded in what is best for our pupils and their families. The report states:
“Pupils, parents and staff are united in their view that St Mary’s is a lovely community to belong to. The school ensures that the decisions they make to improve the school are always in the best interests of pupils and their families.”
Our pupils were described as kind, compassionate, and eager to learn. The curriculum was praised as carefully designed, helping pupils achieve well and develop a genuine love of learning. Staff were commended for how well they identify gaps in understanding, especially in reading and writing, and for offering timely support when needed.
We are particularly pleased that the report acknowledges the significant improvements made in pupils’ writing, as well as the work being done to support communication and language development, particularly for pupils who join us with difficulties in these areas or who are new to English.
Our early years provision was recognised for encouraging a strong foundation in number skills. While the report also identified the need to further support some older pupils in recalling number facts and solving complex mathematical problems, we are already taking steps to strengthen this area of our provision.
Behaviour across the school was described as exceptional, both in lessons and at breaktimes. Inspectors noted that attendance is strong, with families supported to understand the importance of being in school every day and on time.
We were especially pleased to see Ofsted acknowledge the inclusive and supportive culture we have built. Pupils who are new to the country are quickly welcomed into our school community and supported to learn English. Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are helped to grow in confidence and are encouraged to take part in the many clubs and enrichment opportunities on offer.
Headteacher Mrs Gemma Turner commented:
“We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of this Ofsted inspection. The report highlights all of the hard work that has taken place at St Mary’s and recognises that this is a lovely school and community to belong to. Everyone here is valued, included, and supported to thrive.”
Inspectors also praised the strength of our partnership with The Painsley Catholic Academy Trust, which has enabled us to create a kind and caring environment that is always striving to improve. Staff were described as benefiting from extensive training opportunities and working tirelessly to deliver the highest standards of education.
In addition to the positive inspection outcome, we are proud to share that, as of December 2024, St Mary’s Catholic Academy was ranked 6th overall in the West Midlands out of 790 primary schools — and 66th nationally out of 16,674 primary schools. We were also named the highest-performing primary school across Leek, Staffordshire, and Stoke-on-Trent in the Primary League Table.
These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and the support of our families. We remain committed to building on this success and continuing to provide an exceptional education in a nurturing and inclusive environment.
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Year 1 Trip to Ford Green Hall
Tue 03 Dec 2024Year 1 had a fantastic day at Ford Green Hall! We found out about the lives of children, and their families, 400 years ago! We played with toys and games that they would have enjoyed, and experienced life at school. We also loved seeing a Tudor Christmas and we had the opportunity to make our own festive pomanders.
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Year Four Vehicle update
Fri 22 Nov 2024Over the past few weeks, Year 4 have been busy with their Autumn vehicle- ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure’. Through the generosity of their family and friends, Year 4 were able to raise an amazing £299.33 for the Samaritan’s Purse project ‘Operation Christmas Child’. The project is a hands-on way for you to bless children in need across the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, personal care items, school supplies, and fun gifts. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Year 4 also endeavoured to care for God’s creation through help to clean up the streets and a local park in Leek. We were shocked at just how much rubbish really ends up on our streets! Using the money that they had raised Year 4 were able to buy litter picking equipment, supplies for the shoeboxes, and a £5 donation per child to the cause. Well done Year 4! The boxes were packed, wrapped and sent off. We Look forward to seeing where in the world they have been delivered to in the coming weeks!
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Year 2 have a blazing time!
Tue 01 Oct 2024What an AMAZING day Year 2 have had today! They started the day by lining up their Tudor houses, just like London in 1666... and then set fire to them - up they went, just like in Pudding Lane! Next up, they made their own bread on the fire and learnt how to make fire! Year 2 were absolutely brilliant and have learnt so much today during their outdoor learning day! A huge thanks to Peak District Survival School.
https://fb.watch/uY7GfGKwqQ/
Please check out our pictures and video of "The Great Fire".
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Douglas Macmillan
Sat 28 Sep 2024On Friday 27th September the whole school joined together to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Research, it was so lovely to welcome so many people and to support such a worthy cause. Thank you to Year 6, Miss Gregory, Mrs Whittaker and Mrs Owen Ball for running the coffee morning.
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Nursery Library Trip
Thu 09 May 2024
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Year 3 Science Workshop!
Fri 19 Apr 2024Today Year 3 took part in a Fizz Pop Science light workshop. We started the workshop by using our diffraction glasses to observe the colours that make white light. We then looked at ultraviolet lights and used our ultraviolet pens to separate the real and fake money and to see which items glowed under the ultraviolet light. We then made our own ultraviolet bracelets, which glow in the sunlight and turn back into clear beads when we are out of the sunlight. A great morning was had by all!
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St Mary's win the Inter-school Public Speaking Competition for KS2!
Thu 11 Apr 2024Today Iliyas, from Year 5, has won the Painsley MAC first ever public speaking competition for KS2. Harriet represented us for KS1 and did a sterling job also.
We are so proud of Iliyas and his hard work on his speech both in and out of the classroom. A huge well done to both children. It takes a lot of courage to speak in front of so many people.
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RAF Cosford
Thu 11 Apr 2024Yesterday KS2 had the fantastic opportunity to go to visit RAF Cosford to complete three different Science and Engineering workshops. They got to design and create Mars Rovers using K'nex and to simulate their drop from a small height of 5 metres. They designed and built rockets, focusing on the wing design and how it affects the flight. They then got to launch them and evaluate them - brilliant! Finally the children got to explore the surface of Mars in an interactive VEX123 Coding workshop! They had to traverse the landscape, collecting samples and delivering them to different sensors across the planet's surface. It was a truly fantastic day, where the behaviour of our children was commended highly: a special mention to Mrs Buggy for organising the trip. Please click on the link to visit our facebook page, where some of the pictures from the day have been made into a video. https://fb.watch/rnLQk12PEg/
