St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Primary
Academy
Ages 4 to 11

Ofsted: Requires improvement

Folly Lane, Wool, Wareham, BH20 6DSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a primary school in Wareham for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 86th of 88 primary schools in Dorset. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in February 2024.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 21 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: Requires improvement
Early years provision: Requires improvement
Safeguarding: Met

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

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

26 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths46%

46%, 16 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score102

102, 4 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score101

101, 4 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

81 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals13.6%

13.6%, 12.9 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language4.9%

4.9%, 16.7 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support18.5%

18.5%, 3.7 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.7%

3.7%, 2.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Wool Church of England Primary School	0.3 miles	Ofsted: Good	46% met the expected standard
Bovington Academy	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	71% met the expected standard
Lulworth and Winfrith CofE Primary School	4 miles	Ofsted judgements: Good	38% met the expected standard
Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary School	5 miles	Ofsted: Good	50% met the expected standard
Frome Valley CofE First School	5 miles	Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good	Not published

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: PLYMOUTH CAST
Age range: 4 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Nursery classes: No
Headteacher: Mr Francis McDonnell
Phone: 01929462565
Website: smsjwool.dorset.sch.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Folly Lane, Wool, Wareham, BH20 6DS
Local authority: Dorset
URN: 140770

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.