Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up High Demand emoji_events #6 in Dudley public Top 2% UK

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

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

personMrs Samantha Chapman

corporate_fareTHE ST JOHN BOSCO CATHOLIC ACADEMY

location_onDudley, DY2 7PW

language Visit Website phone 1384889424

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

249

school

Expected Standard

93%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.6x

summarize

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Dudley, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Highly competitive: 1.6× more applications than places — plan well ahead. Ranks in the top 2% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is an academy converter in Dudley, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of THE ST JOHN BOSCO CATHOLIC ACADEMY. The school has approximately 250 pupils on roll, of whom 30% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #6 of 76 primaries in Dudley and #1,297 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.6× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 28.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 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

93%

LA 59%

Reading100% LA 72%

Writing93% LA 70%

Maths93% LA 71%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

113

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

77%

LA 54%England 61%

Reading90% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing84% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths81% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

97%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading100% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing97% LA 66% · Eng 71%

Maths100% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

114

Maths SS

111

GPS SS

114

Progress (0 = national avg)

8.8

Read

LA -0.7

6.6 to 11.1

4.0

Write

LA -0.2

1.9 to 6.1

6.5

Maths

LA -0.6

4.4 to 8.6

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

78%

LA 57%England 65%

Reading84% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Writing88% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths94% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.2

Read

LA -1.4

-1.0 to 3.3

0.8

Write

LA -0.5

-1.2 to 2.7

2.8

Maths

LA -1.3

0.9 to 4.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 56%

Reading83% LA 67%

Writing83% LA 73%

Maths90% LA 67%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.4

Read

LA -1.3

1.3 to 5.5

1.9

Write

LA -0.6

-0.2 to 4

2.1

Maths

LA -1.4

0.2 to 4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 January 2025

Inspection Report

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14 April 2015

Inspection Report

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01 September 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-01-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2015-04-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2008-10-15

None EIF

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

0.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(1 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 250 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.4%, 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	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	250	1	0.4%	0.8%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	239	1	0.4%	0.9%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	259	1	0.4%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	254	1	0.4%	0.7%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	240	1	0.4%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	250	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	249	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	241	1	0.4%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	253	1	0.4%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	248	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	235	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	259	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	255	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	245	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	256	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	256	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	241	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	258	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	253	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	248	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	261	1	0.4%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	252	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	242	0	0.0%	0.5%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	258	2	0.8%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	244	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	240	4	1.7%	0.5%	0

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 27 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 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.

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree91%

agree9%

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

strongly agree82%

agree18%

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

strongly agree55%

agree9%

not applicable36%

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 agree91%

agree9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree91%

agree9%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree91%

agree9%

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

strongly agree91%

agree9%

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

strongly agree82%

agree9%

disagree9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree82%

agree9%

disagree9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes100%

Top Primary Schools in Dudley

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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St Chad's Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Dudley, DY3 3UE

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Cradley CofE Primary School

Outstanding

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Lutley Primary School

Good

location_on Halesowen, B63 1BU

emoji_events #3 in LA

Brockmoor Primary School

Good

location_on Brierley Hill, DY5 3UZ

emoji_events #4 in LA

Manor Way Primary Academy

Good

location_on Halesowen, B63 3HA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Bramford Primary School

Good

location_on Bilston, WV14 9TU

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View all schools in Dudley 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.

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 Dudley

St Chad's Catholic Primary School

Cradley CofE Primary School

Lutley Primary School

Brockmoor Primary School

Manor Way Primary Academy

Bramford Primary School