St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Devizes

About St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Devizes

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Devizes, sits comfortably above the Wiltshire average for its key stage 2 headline measure. While the local authority average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 58%, St Joseph's achieves 67%. That nine-point gap places the school in the top 50 of Wiltshire's 159 primary schools, and within the top third nationally. It's a solid, above-average performance that gives parents a clear statistical reason to take a closer look. The school is also oversubscribed: for its 2025/26 intake, it received 23 applications for just 13 places, with all 13 first-preference families offered a spot. That 1.77 oversubscription ratio suggests a strong local reputation, and the fact every first-preference applicant got in means it's competitive but not out of reach for families who prioritise it.

Digging into the detail of the 2023/24 key stage 2 results, the picture is more nuanced. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined is just 8%, which is modest, but individual subjects tell a brighter story. Reading stands out: 79% of pupils met the expected standard and 50% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 108. Maths is also strong, with 71% at the expected level and an average score of 105. Writing lags a little, with 83% at expected but only 17% at the higher level. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2017, rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership, management and early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in December 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. That's a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2015, when it was rated Inadequate.

The school serves a notably diverse intake: 42.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, and the school is Roman Catholic in character. Facilities include a chapel, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite and playing fields, plus a gymnasium. Sports on offer range from swimming and athletics to netball and tennis, while clubs include science, coding, drama, choir and chess. The school's SEND provision covers social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as speech, language and communication support. With 187 pupils against a capacity of 210, there is some headroom, but the oversubscription data suggests demand is strong. This is a school that suits families who value a faith-based setting with solid academic outcomes, a broad extracurricular offer and a clear track record of improvement from a difficult past.

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