St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 January 2026

Staff warmly welcome pupils and their families each morning, helping pupils to feel part of a close, supportive community. Pupils describe the school as a family and value the caring, nurturing relationships they have with staff and one another. These strong relationships give pupils a clear sense of belonging, helping them feel safe and ready to learn. Although attendance has been low in recent years, leaders have taken decisive action. As a result, attendance is now improving, allowing pupils to benefit more consistently from the school’s provision. Incidents of bullying are rare and when they do occur, staff respond effectively. Pupils enjoy their learning. They find lessons engaging and say that staff help them well when they struggle. The strengthened early years provision ensures that children are well prepared for the transition into Year 1. By the time pupils leave for secondary school, their outcomes are consistently in line with, or above, national standards. Inclusion is a central feature of the school’s work. Leaders and staff identify pupils’ needs accurately and adapt the curriculum and teaching accordingly. This supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, disadvantaged pupils and those facing other barriers to learning or wellbeing. As a result, these pupils progress well from their individual starting points. The curriculum is enriched through visits, such as trips to the zoo and the RAF museum, which broaden pupils’ experiences. Pupil leadership roles, including the school council and charity ambassadors, help pupils understand citizenship and contribute to the wider community. The school council, for example, worked with the chef to make changes to school lunches. Pupils also lead charitable activities, such as organising foodbank collections. Some visit a local care home for older people, while others engage with a centre supporting disabled adults.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that phonics teaching is consistently high quality to help pupils develop secure early reading skills. • Leaders should strengthen their recording and analysing of school performance data to evaluate the effectiveness of all aspects of the school’s provision and to inform further improvement.

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