Classpot

St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington

Cumberland, CA14 3EESecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Nov 2023
Progress 8
-0.63
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
92 1st-choice / 104 places
Ranking
#2,773
of 3,141 nationally

About St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington

St Josephs Catholic High School in Workington is a secondary school for 11 to 16 year olds that currently has 517 pupils on its roll against a capacity of 615, leaving around 100 spare places. That spare capacity is notable because the school is actually oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 201 applications for 104 places, with 92 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.93. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 43%, which is significantly higher than the national average and reflects the school's role in serving a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. As a Roman Catholic school, it draws families from across the local area who value its faith-based character, but the high demand suggests its appeal extends beyond the Catholic community. The headteacher is Ian Nevitt, and the school operates within the Cumberland local authority.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressHarrington Road, Workington, Cumberland, CA14 3EE
HeadteacherIan Nevitt
Local AuthorityCumberland
Number of Pupils517
Free School Meals (FSM)43.0%
School Capacity517 / 615 (84% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 21 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
GymnasiumTennis CourtsTheatrePlaying FieldsSports HallSwimming PoolICT SuiteScience LabsAstro TurfMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

RoundersAthleticsSwimmingDanceHockeyRowingTennisCricketBasketball

Clubs & Activities

CodingScience ClubDramaModel United NationsDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: sjchs.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington

St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.