St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
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
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 21 February 2024
Pupils at St Mary & St Jospeh's Catholic Primary School have positive attitudes to their learning. The school is welcoming and highly inclusive. Most pupils behave respectfully towards one another and staff. Pupils' emotional well-being is prioritised. Recent work to reduce bullying has had a positive impact on pupil behaviour. Issues are dealt with effectively by staff. Most pupils behave well in lessons. The curriculum is undergoing changes. This means that pupils learn better in some subjects than in others. Pupils achieve well in phonics, English and mathematics. Pupils learn a broad range of subjects, but they learn better in some subjects than in others. There have been recent changes to leadership and staffing, but this is now more settled. For example, changes to the curriculum in Reception are beginning to have a positive impact on children. All pupils have a variety of opportunities to participate in clubs and activities. Pupils who are 'Bronze Ambassadors' and prefects are proud of being able to support younger pupils and the school community. In addition, links within the local and international communities support pupils' understanding of what it means to be a good citizen.
What the school should improve
- The implementation of some areas of the curriculum is not consistent, including in the early years. There is not yet a shared understanding of precisely what all pupils should know and be able to do in these subjects and areas of learning. As a result, assessment is not being used effectively to check what pupils know and can do. The trust must ensure that the curriculum is consistently implemented.
- Leadership is new in several areas. The school has not ensured that the planned curriculum is delivered as intended or its impact checked. As a result, pupils are learning less well in some areas and are less well prepared for the next stage of their learning. The trust must ensure that the curriculum is monitored strategically for its impact in all subject areas.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
26 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
81 pupils on roll, with places for 210
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
- 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.