St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley

Primary
Academy
Ages 7 to 11

Ofsted judgements: Outstanding

School Street, Birtley, Chester le Street, DH3 2PNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is a primary school in Chester le Street for ages 7 to 11. It is one of the 92 schools in Gateshead. It ranks 1st of 16 primary schools in Chester le Street. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 24 June 2025, report published 23 July 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding
Personal development: Outstanding
Leadership and management: Outstanding
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

17 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths76%

76%, 14 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths18%

18%, 10 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score109

109, 3 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score108

108, 3 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score109

109, 4 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

105 pupils on roll, with places for 120

Eligible for free school meals25.7%

25.7%, 0.8 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language24.8%

24.8%, 3.2 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support17.1%

17.1%, 2.3 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan7.6%

7.6%, 1.6 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley	0.4 miles	Ofsted: Good	Not published
Ravensworth Terrace Primary School	0.4 miles	Ofsted: Good	60% met the expected standard
Portobello Primary School	0.5 miles	Ofsted: Good	71% met the expected standard
Barley Mow Primary School	0.7 miles	Ofsted: Good	57% met the expected standard
Birtley East Community Primary School	0.9 miles	Ofsted: Good	59% met the expected standard

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Age range: 7 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Nursery classes: No
Headteacher: Mrs Kate Swaddle
Phone: 01914102231
Website: stjosephcatholicschoolsbirtley.org (opens in a new tab)
Address: School Street, Birtley, Chester le Street, DH3 2PN
Local authority: Gateshead
URN: 148844

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.