St Joseph Catholic Primary School

About St Joseph Catholic Primary School

St Joseph Catholic Primary School sits within Hertfordshire’s Three Rivers borough, a local authority where 45 out of 401 primary schools hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school itself is one of them, though its ranking among same-type schools in the area places it at 20th out of 25, with a percentile of 80. The top-performing peers in the local context are Little Gaddesden Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School and Harvey Road Primary School, both scoring a perfect 100 on the ranking metric, followed by The Russell School at 97. St Joseph’s own ranking score of 66 reflects a solid but not top-tier position within this competitive landscape. The nearest Outstanding-rated neighbour is Warren Dell Primary School, just 0.4 kilometres away, meaning families in the area have strong Catholic and non-denominational options within walking distance. With a capacity of 240 and 242 pupils currently on roll, the school is operating at near-full occupancy, and its 2025/26 admissions data shows it is oversubscribed: 103 applications for 30 places, with 47 first-preference applications and 30 offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.43.

Academically, St Joseph’s most recent Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 academic year show 66% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is just above the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64%, though the school’s own reading and maths scores tell a more nuanced story. The average reading score was 108, with 86% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 31% achieving a higher standard. In maths, the average score was 104, with 72% at expected and 14% at the higher level. Writing was weaker: 72% at expected and only 3% at the higher standard. The school’s Ofsted inspection history shows a clear upward trajectory. In 2012 it was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also Good. By its graded inspection in 2017, it had risen to Outstanding overall, with leadership and management and early years provision all Outstanding. An ungraded inspection in June 2023 confirmed the school remains Outstanding, with early years provision still rated Outstanding.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, chapel, sensory room, ICT suite, and dedicated art and music rooms. Sports provision includes swimming, rounders, cricket and cross country, while clubs range from gardening and art to eco club. For families with children who have additional needs, St Joseph’s SEND register covers a wide spectrum: moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. The school also has a nursery provision, making it a viable option for families seeking a single-site primary journey from age three. Given its Catholic character, oversubscribed status and strong local reputation, this school will particularly suit practising Catholic families who prioritise faith-based education and are willing to navigate a competitive admissions process. Its proximity to other Outstanding primaries means it is part of a dense, high-quality local school market in Three Rivers.

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