Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #195 in Lancashire public Top 31% UK

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Withnell

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

personMrs Katie Cunliffe

location_onChorley, PR6 8SD

language Visit Website phone 1254830400

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

100

school

Expected Standard

71%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Withnell is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Chorley, serving ages 4-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 31% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Withnell is a voluntary aided school in Chorley, Lancashire, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 99 pupils on roll, of whom 6% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 14% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #195 of 444 primaries in Lancashire and #7,121 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 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

71%

LA 59%

Reading86% LA 73%

Writing71% LA 69%

Maths93% LA 72%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

79%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading79% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing79% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths79% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading92% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing92% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths92% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.9

Read

LA -0.2

1.4 to 8.5

3.3

Write

LA 0.1

-0.1 to 6.8

2.7

Maths

LA -0.3

-0.7 to 6.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

87%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading93% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing100% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths93% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

111

GPS SS

113

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.6

Read

LA -0.2

1.5 to 7.7

5.5

Write

LA 0.1

2.6 to 8.4

5.4

Maths

LA -0.2

2.7 to 8.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

100%

LA 65%

Reading100% LA 76%

Writing100% LA 78%

Maths100% LA 75%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.3

Read

LA 0.1

0.8 to 7.8

6.1

Write

LA 0.1

2.7 to 9.5

4.7

Maths

LA 0.0

1.5 to 7.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

17 December 2024

Inspection Report

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08 October 2019

Inspection Report

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11 September 2018

Inspection Report

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03 December 2013

Inspection Report

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02 November 2011

Inspection Report

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05 March 2009

Inspection Report

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19 October 2005

Inspection Report

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02 October 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2019-10-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2018-09-11

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-12-03

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-11-02

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

history Predecessor Link

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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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 99 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	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	99	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	99	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	98	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	98	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	102	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	98	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	100	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	99	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	99	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	99	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	100	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	98	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	97	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	101	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	97	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	97	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	97	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	97	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	98	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	98	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	88	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	88	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	89	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	79	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	79	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	74	0.0%	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 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Physical 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.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

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

12.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree77%

agree21%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree72%

agree23%

disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree47%

agree14%

disagree2%

don't know2%

not applicable35%

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.

strongly agree65%

agree26%

disagree2%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree79%

agree14%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree70%

agree21%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree84%

agree14%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree86%

agree12%

disagree2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree84%

agree12%

disagree2%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes95%

no5%

Top Primary Schools in Lancashire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Good

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Lomeshaye Junior School

Good

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St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Preston

Good

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emoji_events #4 in LA

Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Burnley, BB12 0BN

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St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall

Good

location_on Rossendale, BB4 8SU

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View all schools in Lancashire 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 Lancashire

Stanah Primary School

Helmshore Primary School

Lomeshaye Junior School

St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Preston

Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall