St Joseph's Catholic Academy, Goldenhill

About St Joseph's Catholic Academy, Goldenhill

St Joseph's Catholic Academy in Goldenhill is a state primary school for boys and girls aged 3 to 11, and it is currently full to the brim. With 241 pupils on roll against a capacity of 240, the school is operating at maximum capacity, and demand is strong. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 26 applications for just 21 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.24 applicants per place. All 21 offers went to first-preference families, suggesting it is a popular first choice in the area. The school serves a community with significant economic need: 39% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. As a Roman Catholic school, it will have a faith-based admissions criteria, though the data doesn't specify the exact oversubscription policy. The school also has a nursery provision, so families with younger children may have a route in from age 3.

Academically, St Joseph's produces mixed results at Key Stage 2. In the 2023/24 assessments, 56% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is slightly below the Stoke-on-Trent local authority average of 60%, and places the school 41st out of 63 primaries in the area. Nationally, it sits in the bottom half of schools for this measure. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story. Average reading and maths scores were 105 and 102 respectively, both above the national benchmark of 100. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading was 22%, and 19% in maths, though only 4% reached that level across all three subjects. Ofsted's most recent graded inspection, in 2015, rated the school Good overall, with Good marks for leadership, management and early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, gymnasium, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision is broad, with athletics, cricket, dance, netball, rounders, tennis and cross country on offer, plus clubs like chess, choir, science club, drama, art and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 95% of respondents to the Parent View survey would recommend the school, and 75% strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. This is a school that suits families who value a strong sense of community, a faith-based environment, and a setting where children are well supported pastorally, even if academic outcomes are more mixed than some local alternatives.

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