St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull vs William Barnes Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in South West, England, 6.2 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
Sturminster Newton · Academy primary · Ages 2–11
82 students
William Barnes Primary School
Sturminster Newton · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
162 students
| Measure | St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull Sturminster Newton, South West | William Barnes Primary School Sturminster Newton, South West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 46 Lower 50% | 41 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #953 of 1,695 | #1083 of 1,695 |
| National rank | #8823 of 15,697 | #9964 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Local authority |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 2–11 | Ages 4–11 |
| Students | 82 | 162 |
| Pupils on roll | 82 | 162 |
| Free school meals | 13.4% | 25.3% |
| Capacity filled | 46.9% | 77.1% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 67% | 55% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 0% | 10% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Sturminster Newton | Sturminster Newton |
| region | South West | South West |
| Website | www.stmarymarnhull.dorset.sch.uk/ | www.williambarnes.dorset.sch.uk/ |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull scores higher on the Success Index (England) (46.3 vs 40.9).
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (67% vs 55%).
- •William Barnes Primary School does better on ks2: higher standard (10% vs 0%).
- •William Barnes Primary School is the larger school with 162 students compared with 82.
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull is a academy school while William Barnes Primary School is a local authority 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 St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull better than William Barnes Primary School?
On the Success Index (England), St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull ranks higher (46.3 vs 40.9 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 St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull and William Barnes Primary School?
About 6.2 km in a straight line, between Sturminster Newton and Sturminster Newton in South West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull: 82. William Barnes Primary School: 162. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull and William Barnes Primary School rank in South West?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull is 953rd of 1,695 and William Barnes Primary School is 1083rd of 1,695 among primary schools in South West on the 2025 Success Index (England).