St Joseph's Catholic Primary School B/S
Great Hadham Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2NLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School B/S is a primary school in Bishop's Stortford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 9th of 22 primary schools in Bishop's Stortford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 December 2022, report published 1 February 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 December 2022
Pupils at St Joseph's are happy and safe. They show pride in their school. They act out the Christian values of respect and tolerance, which supports everyone to feel included. Pupils enjoy learning about the world around them. They compare other people's experiences to their own to understand and learn about difference. Pupils behave well in lessons and during playtimes. Bullying rarely happens, but if it does, adults sort it out. Pupils overwhelmingly say that their peers at the school are kind. They know the expectations in place and gently remind each other of the rules. Pupils experience a wide range of opportunities linked to the curriculum and the Catholic faith. Pupils take on responsibilities to help shape the future of their school and community. These include the chaplaincy committee and sports captain roles. Addressing issues of sustainability is a golden thread running through the school. Pupils are reflective and mature when considering how their actions affect the world. Pupils benefit from celebrations and awards that recognise their qualities and achievements. These include the 'Jack Fielder achievement award' for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and the 'Franciscan value award'.
What the school should improve
- Pupils in key stage 1 who are struggling at the early stages of reading, including some with SEND, do not have the appropriate interventions and support to catch up. This means these pupils are not achieving as well as they could in reading or writing. Leaders must ensure staff have the training to know how to plan and deliver appropriate interventions and support so that pupils who fall behind in reading catch up quickly.
- Leaders of some curriculum subjects do not clearly identify all the skills and knowledge pupils need to learn. This means that less experienced staff do not always know what knowledge has been taught already or needs to come next. Leaders must ensure that they outline precisely what should be taught across the whole curriculum.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
62 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
436 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School B/S
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Michael's Church of England Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 68% met the expected standard |
| Windhill21 | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 70% met the expected standard |
| Hillmead Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 77% met the expected standard |
| Northgate Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 82% met the expected standard |
| Manor Fields Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 80% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Miss Ann Cassidy-Jones
- Phone
- 01279652576
- Address
- Great Hadham Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2NL
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 148491
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.