Sands School vs St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South West, England, 3.2 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Sands School
Newton Abbot · Independent secondary · Ages 11–18
67 students
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast
Buckfastleigh · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
168 students
| Measure | Sands School Newton Abbot, South West | St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast Buckfastleigh, South West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 4 Lower 50% | 30 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #399 of 402 | #1351 of 1,695 |
| National rank | #4051 of 4,090 | #12268 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Independent | Academy |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 11–18 | Ages 3–11 |
| Students | 67 | 168 |
| Pupils on roll | 67 | 168 |
| Free school meals | – | 31.4% |
| Capacity filled | 79.8% | 152.7% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | 61% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | 0% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 14.3 | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 0% | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 0% | – |
| EBacc average points | 0.80 | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Newton Abbot | Buckfastleigh |
| region | South West | South West |
| Website | www.sands-school.co.uk | www.st-marysrc.devon.sch.uk/ |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast scores higher on the Success Index (England) (29.7 vs 3.9).
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast is the larger school with 168 students compared with 67.
- •Sands School is a independent school while St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast is a academy school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Sands School better than St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast?
On the Success Index (England), St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast ranks higher (29.7 vs 3.9 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Sands School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast?
About 3.2 km in a straight line, between Newton Abbot and Buckfastleigh in South West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Sands School: 67. St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast: 168. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Sands School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast rank in South West?
Sands School is 399th of 402 and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Buckfast is 1351st of 1,695 among secondary schools in South West on the 2025 Success Index (England).