St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Castleford

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted judgements: Good

Pontefract Road, Castleford, WF10 4JBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Castleford is a primary school in Castleford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 155 schools in Wakefield. It ranks 7th of 10 primary schools in Castleford. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 8 October 2024, report published 19 November 2024

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

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 October 2024

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere for all. The school embodies its Catholic values. Relationships between adults and pupils are nurturing and positive. This contributes to a supportive and happy school culture where pupils feel encouraged to succeed. Leaders set high expectations. Pupils rise to these. Pupils behave well in lessons and during social times. Pupils achieve well. In lessons, pupils are engaged and are keen to participate. Throughout corridors and in the playground, pupils display excellent manners, kindness and respect. The curriculum is enriched with many meaningful activities. Pupils visit the seaside and woodlands to learn about different geographical features. Pupils also get the opportunity to visit an outdoor activity centre. This helps them to develop teamwork skills. Pupils appreciate these experiences. Pupils learn to become responsible citizens, for example by joining the school eco-council. Pupils also get the chance to embody one of the school's Catholic virtues of kindness by being a 'faith friend'. Pupils are safe and supported well at this school. Strong pastoral care means that pupils know they can turn to adults for help. Pupils say that any adult in the school would successfully address any concerns or worries they might have.

What the school should improve

  • Some activities in early years are not tightly focused on what children need to learn next. As a result, some children do not learn as much as they could. The school should ensure that learning activities precisely support children to learn the intended curriculum in preparation for key stage 1.
  • Assessment processes in some foundation subjects do not provide clear information about what pupils know and remember. This can lead to gaps in pupils' knowledge. The school should refine assessment practices to check that pupils learn the intended knowledge across all subjects.
  • Pupils' understanding of British values is less developed in some areas than it is in others. The school should refine these aspects of the curriculum to further prepare pupils for life in modern Britain

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

29 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths52%

52%, 10 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths7%

7%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score102

102, 4 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score101

101, 4 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

197 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals8.1%

8.1%, 18.4 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language15.2%

15.2%, 6.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support15.2%

15.2%, 0.4 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1%

1%, 5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Castleford

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Castleford Park Junior Academy0.2 milesOfsted: Good61% met the expected standard
Castleford Wheldon Infant School and Nursery0.2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Glasshoughton Infant Academy0.3 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Smawthorne Henry Moore Academy0.5 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Half Acres Primary Academy0.6 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding65% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
THE BISHOP KONSTANT CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Sarah Spencer
Address
Pontefract Road, Castleford, WF10 4JB
Local authority
Wakefield
URN
138949

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.