St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Barnard Castle is celebrating after receiving the highest possible judgement - Grade 1 (Outstanding) in all areas - in its recent Catholic Schools Inspectorate (CSI) report. Inspectors praised the school for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, noting that St Mary’s is “deeply rooted in its Catholic identity and mission, which is proudly proclaimed and enthusiastically lived by everyone.”
The report highlights the strong and dedicated leadership at St Mary’s, recognising the team’s deep commitment to ensuring every pupil feels special and loved by God. Inspectors noted that within just one hour of being in the school, they could immediately feel the strength of the Catholic ethos - an observation the school says it will “treasure for a long time.”
Inspectors described behaviour across the school as outstanding, with pupils showing exceptional respect for themselves and for one another. They also commended the pupils’ ability to listen and collaborate effectively, their confidence, independence, and capacity to engage comfortably in thoughtful, meaningful conversations.
The CSI report highlights the high standard of achievement in religious education at St Mary’s, particularly by the end of pupils’ time at the school. Students’ books were described as beautifully presented, and inspectors noted the children’s strong understanding of their faith and their impressive ability to articulate and reference this knowledge. Pupils were also celebrated for their enthusiastic participation in - and leadership of - prayer and liturgy, both in school and at the parish church. Their reverence, reflection, and engagement were recognised as key strengths.
Headteacher Lesley Box said: “We are delighted with the report and feel it reflects the life and mission of St Mary’s perfectly. Hearing inspectors say that, within an hour of being in the school, they could feel the Catholic ethos was outstanding is something we will treasure for a long time. The inspectors recognised that St Mary's is a ‘warm and welcoming’ school, deeply rooted in its Catholic identity and mission.”
“The inspectors were very complimentary of the children, recognising from feedback that they feel special and loved. On behalf of the children, staff, governors and our fabulous families, I would like to thank everybody for the time they took to speak to the inspectors, fill out questionnaires, and support us unwaveringly as always. I am incredibly proud to be Headteacher of such a wonderful school - working with an exceptional staff team, adorable pupils and parents who are as proud as we are of our achievements here at St Mary’s.”
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is part of Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, which has congratulated the school on this outstanding achievement and celebrates the success of its pupils, staff and wider community.