Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #128 in Hertfordshire public Top 39% UK

St Joseph Catholic Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Linda Payne

location_onWatford, WD19 7DW

language Visit Website phone 2084285371

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

237

school

Expected Standard

68%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.3x

summarize

St Joseph Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Watford, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 39% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Joseph Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Watford, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 242 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #128 of 334 primaries in Hertfordshire and #5,604 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

68%

LA 61%

Reading82% LA 76%

Writing75% LA 70%

Maths82% LA 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 61%England 61%

Reading86% LA 76% · Eng 74%

Writing72% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths72% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading83% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing77% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths80% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.7

Read

LA 0.3

1.5 to 6.0

2.7

Write

LA -0.4

0.6 to 4.9

2.8

Maths

LA -0.1

0.7 to 5.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading83% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths80% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.9

Read

LA -0.1

2.7 to 7.1

3.4

Write

LA -0.5

1.4 to 5.5

5.1

Maths

LA -0.5

3.1 to 7.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

78%

LA 66%

Reading85% LA 78%

Writing81% LA 78%

Maths93% LA 76%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

5.7

Read

LA 0.1

3.4 to 8

2.2

Write

LA -0.5

0 to 4.4

5.1

Maths

LA -0.4

3.1 to 7.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 June 2023

Inspection Report

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28 February 2017

Inspection Report

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26 April 2012

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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04 December 2007

Inspection Report

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02 June 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2017-02-28

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2012-04-26

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 242 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	242	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	236	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	234	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	231	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	222	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	235	1	0.4%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	237	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	232	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	223	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	223	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	223	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	226	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	227	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	228	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	237	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	237	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	236	2	0.8%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	241	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	242	1	0.4%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	243	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	237	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	229	1	0.4%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	234	7	3.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	233	2	0.9%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	235	7	3.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	226	5	2.2%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 28 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 27 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree77%

agree20%

disagree2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree63%

agree31%

disagree6%

don't know1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree44%

agree10%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

not applicable39%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes15%

no85%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree77%

agree8%

disagree8%

dont know8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree60%

agree34%

disagree3%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree74%

agree24%

disagree1%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree60%

agree34%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree65%

agree31%

disagree1%

don't know3%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree66%

agree31%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree61%

agree32%

disagree3%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes98%

no2%

Top Primary Schools in Hertfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans

Outstanding

location_on St Albans, AL3 4SJ

emoji_events #1 in LA

Field Junior School

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD18 0AZ

emoji_events #2 in LA

London Colney Primary & Nursery School

Good

location_on St Albans, AL2 1JG

emoji_events #3 in LA

Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School

Requires improvement

location_on Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3JP

emoji_events #4 in LA

Richard Whittington Primary School

Good

location_on Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3NP

emoji_events #5 in LA

Bovingdon Primary Academy

Good

location_on Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0HL

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Hertfordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Hertfordshire

St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans

Field Junior School

London Colney Primary & Nursery School

Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School

Richard Whittington Primary School

Bovingdon Primary Academy