5

St Mary's Primary School food hygiene rating

School/college/university · Newry, Mourne and Down

St Mary's Primary School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 26 October 2023, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.

Address: Barr Hill, Ballylough, Newry, BT34 1SY

How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down

That puts St Mary's Primary School among the 1,411 places in Newry, Mourne and Down holding top marks, 89% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.

Every rated food business in Newry, Mourne and Down
5 out of 5 1,411 89% ← St Mary's Primary School
4 out of 5 124 8%
3 out of 5 24 2%
2 out of 5 13 1%
1 out of 5 8 1%
0 out of 5 0 0%

A further 143 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At St Mary's Primary School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.

Food hygiene ratings nearby

The closest food businesses to St Mary's Primary School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Glenn and Barr Playgroup School/college/university 432 yards away 5 - Very good 10 June 2026
Glenn and Barr Playgroup School/college/university 0.5 miles away 5 - Very good 23 January 2025
Teenie Weenies Daycare Nursery and Afterschool School/college/university 1.2 miles away 5 - Very good 22 July 2025
Sheepbridge Inn/Bridge Bowling/Cheeky MO Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 1.4 miles away 5 - Very good 18 May 2026
Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house 1.5 miles away 5 - Very good 17 November 2025
Nevins Diner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 1.7 miles away 5 - Very good 20 February 2025
Tiddly Town Newry Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 1.9 miles away 5 - Very good 4 October 2023
Mullaghglass Primary School Meals Kitchen School/college/university 2.3 miles away 5 - Very good 20 February 2025

Questions about St Mary's Primary School

What is St Mary's Primary School's food hygiene rating?

St Mary's Primary School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 26 October 2023.

Is St Mary's Primary School safe to eat at?

The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was St Mary's Primary School last inspected?

St Mary's Primary School was last inspected on 26 October 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newry, Mourne and Down Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at St Mary's Primary School?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does St Mary's Primary School compare to other places in Newry, Mourne and Down?

89% of the 1,580 rated food businesses in Newry, Mourne and Down hold the top rating of 5, and St Mary's Primary School is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects St Mary's Primary School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.

Tell me when this changes

The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch St Mary's Primary School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

St Mary's Primary School is one of 1,034 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down

Newry, Mourne and Down inspects and rates 1,723 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newry, Mourne and Down

The official record is held by the council: http://www.newrymournedown.org

Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →