Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #65 in Dorset public Top 87% UK

St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

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

personMrs Sarah Terrey

corporate_farePLYMOUTH CAST

location_onWareham, BH20 6DS

language Visit Website phone 1929462565

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

153

school

Expected Standard

46%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Wareham, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 87% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Mary & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is an academy converter in Wareham, Dorset, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of PLYMOUTH CAST. The school has approximately 116 pupils on roll, of whom 10% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 46% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #65 of 78 primaries in Dorset and #12,928 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.8 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

46%

LA 54%

Reading58% LA 71%

Writing69% LA 67%

Maths58% LA 68%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

29%

LA 53%England 61%

Reading76% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing43% LA 66% · Eng 72%

Maths43% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

65%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading85% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing75% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths70% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.8

Read

LA 0.0

1.0 to 6.6

0.1

Write

LA -0.8

-2.6 to 2.8

-0.6

Maths

LA -1.3

-3.3 to 2.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

43%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading57% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing70% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths52% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.3

Read

LA -0.3

-4.8 to 0.3

-1.1

Write

LA -0.5

-3.4 to 1.2

-2.0

Maths

LA -1.1

-4.3 to 0.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 58%

Reading82% LA 73%

Writing77% LA 73%

Maths59% LA 69%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA -0.3

-4 to 1.2

-0.8

Write

LA -0.5

-3.3 to 1.7

-4.3

Maths

LA -1.2

-6.7 to -1.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

13 March 2025

Inspection Report

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21 February 2024

Inspection Report

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29 January 2020

Inspection Report

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03 April 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-02-21

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2020-01-29

Exempt School Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2011-10-06

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2009-04-30

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

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 116 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)	116	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	120	2	1.7%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	136	2	1.5%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	137	5	3.6%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	140	3	2.1%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	152	6	3.9%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	153	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	150	7	4.7%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	161	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	162	4	2.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	158	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	163	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	166	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	168	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	168	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	168	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	170	4	2.4%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	178	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	178	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	169	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	175	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	176	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	171	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	166	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	167	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	170	0	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 10 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 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.

81.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

86.0%Positive

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

15.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree19%

agree52%

disagree14%

strongly disagree14%

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

strongly agree19%

agree38%

disagree33%

strongly disagree10%

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

strongly agree19%

agree33%

disagree19%

strongly disagree5%

not applicable24%

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 agree19%

agree43%

disagree19%

strongly disagree5%

don't know14%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree19%

agree71%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree10%

agree52%

disagree33%

strongly disagree5%

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

strongly agree24%

agree57%

disagree19%

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

strongly agree38%

agree38%

disagree19%

strongly disagree5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree10%

agree38%

disagree19%

strongly disagree14%

don't know19%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes62%

no38%

Top Primary Schools in Dorset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Bovington Academy

Good

location_on Wareham, BH20 6LE

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Weymouth, DT3 5DQ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Conifers Primary School

Good

location_on Weymouth, DT4 0QF

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage

Good

location_on Swanage, BH19 1QE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Trent Young's CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Sherborne, DT9 4SW

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Ives Primary & Nursery School

Outstanding

location_on Ringwood, BH24 2LE

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Dorset 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 Dorset

Bovington Academy

St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School

Conifers Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage

Trent Young's CofE Primary School

St Ives Primary & Nursery School