Our School History
St Mary and St Andrew’s was founded in September 1988 with the amalgamation of St Mary’s, Barton and St Andrew’s, Cottam, on the St Mary’s site on Station Lane; previously the school was known as Newhouse School. The two former schools had long histories as village schools serving their respective parishes and the new school was proud to inherit their names.
St Mary & St Andrew’s is ideally situated in a quiet rural environment. The playing fields at the back of the school overlook farmland with views of the Longridge Fells beyond. The school community has grown over the years and as a result the building has changed extensively. Visitors to school are amazed at the size of the building and grounds which are deceptively spacious.
The first phase of the school building, the dining hall, kitchen and staffroom, dates from 1857. This part of the building was modernised and extended in 1958. In 1970, two further classrooms were added. In 1995 a new school hall and offices were built. The Key Stage 2 classrooms were extended and a new ICT and library added to the side of the hall in 2002. The building continues to be well maintained and equipped offering sizeable teaching accommodation.
In June 2023, the school was awarded the grade of 'Outstanding' by the diocese of Lancaster in their Catholic Schools' Inspectorate inspection, and in October 2024 OFSTED graded our school 'Outstanding' in Personal Development and 'Good' in The Quality of Education, Behaviour & Attitudes, Leadership & Managment and Early Years Provision. On the 1st April 2025 we joined the Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust to be ‘One Family in Christ’ delivering the Catholic mission of the Diocese of Lancaster and serving the family of Catholic schools in the Preston area, under the patronage of Mary the Mother of the church - Mater Ecclesiae'. In April 2025, after 6 successful years of supporting and guiding our school to 'be the best we can be'.