St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle

About St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle

Just over half of parents who responded to Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle, with 55% saying yes. That figure sits alongside a mixed picture from the 31 families who took part between September 2024 and September 2025. On the positive side, 90% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 84% felt their child does well there. The school is clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 25 applications for just 12 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.08, and all 11 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. However, some areas of concern emerged. Only 74% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and 26% disagreed that the school makes sure pupils are well behaved. The proportion who felt their child is safe at school was 81% agreeing or strongly agreeing, with 19% disagreeing.

Academically, St Joseph's sits in the middle of the pack. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Lancashire local authority average of 60%. That places the school 25th out of 46 primary schools in Chorley, and 169th out of 480 across the whole county. At the higher standard, 7% achieved the top marks across all three subjects. Individual subject scores show writing as a relative strength, with 80% reaching the expected level and 13% hitting the higher standard. Reading and maths both saw 73% at the expected level, with average scores of 102 and 104 respectively. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2015, rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. An ungraded inspection in February 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained.

The school is a small, Roman Catholic primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, with 88 children on roll against a capacity of 120. Facilities include a chapel, sensory room, art studios and a dining hall. Sports provision covers football, rounders, gymnastics, cricket and swimming, while clubs range from eco club and gardening to coding, chess and science club. SEND support is listed for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying from outside the faith catchment or without a church connection may find it harder to secure a place. It suits families who value a Catholic ethos, a small school feel, and a setting where most children achieve the expected standards, but where some parents have flagged concerns around behaviour and safety that may be worth exploring further.

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