St Joseph's Catholic School
Church Road, Laverstock, Salisbury, SP1 1QYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Joseph's Catholic School is a secondary school in Salisbury for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 262 schools in Wiltshire. It ranks 5th of 7 secondary schools in Salisbury. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in February 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 6 February 2024, report published 24 April 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Requires improvement
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 6 February 2024
Pupils feel welcome and included at St Joseph's. Kindness, tolerance and respect permeate all aspects of school life. Pupils know that they are valued as individuals, whatever their faith or background. Most pupils attend well and are keen to learn. However, the way the curriculum is taught does not always enable pupils to achieve well. The harmonious, inclusive atmosphere is underpinned by warm relationships between pupils and staff. Pupils have trusted adults to whom they can speak if they have any worries. They are confident that staff will respond swiftly to the rare incidents of bullying. Most pupils feel well supported and cared for. Many parents comment positively on the strong pastoral support that helps their children to flourish. The trips, visits and clubs that the school offers help pupils to develop a range of talents and interests. The leadership roles that pupils take on help them to learn about democracy and the importance of being an active citizen. Pupils value the many opportunities to discuss important issues. This helps them to think for themselves and develop their own 'moral compass'.
What the school should improve
- Teaching does not always check effectively what pupils know. Consequently, some pupils have gaps in their learning, or misconceptions that persist. This is particularly evident for pupils with SEND and those who are disadvantaged. The school needs to ensure that pupils' learning is checked effectively and that the curriculum is successfully adapted to meet pupils' needs so that pupils know and remember more.
- Some teaching activities do not focus closely on the learning that the curriculum intends. This means that the activities pupils complete do not always enable them to gain the knowledge and skills that they need for future learning. The school should ensure that the curriculum enables pupils to acquire sufficient knowledge over time.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
117 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
565 pupils on roll, with places for 625
Schools near St Joseph's Catholic School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyvern St Edmund's Academy | 0.1 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Attainment 8: 42.2 |
| Leehurst Swan School | 0.9 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 23.3 |
| Chafyn-Godolphin | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 24.6 |
| South Wilts Grammar School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 77.0 |
| Salisbury Sixth Form College | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Higgins
- Phone
- 01722335380
- Address
- Church Road, Laverstock, Salisbury, SP1 1QY
- Local authority
- Wiltshire
- URN
- 126473
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.