St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate

About St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate

Parent feedback at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate, tells a story of a school where most families are happy, but a significant minority have reservations. Of the 17 parents who responded to the Ofsted Parent View survey between September 2024 and September 2025, 82% said they would recommend the school. That's a solid majority, though it leaves nearly one in five who wouldn't. The detail is more mixed: 71% strongly agreed their child is happy, and 71% strongly agreed their child does well, yet only 53% strongly agreed the school lets them know how their child is doing, and 12% strongly disagreed on that point. On behaviour, 47% strongly agreed the school ensures good conduct, while 12% disagreed. The school is clearly popular on the ground: for 2025/26 admissions, it received 18 applications for just 4 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.5 to 1. All four first-preference applicants were offered a place, but with that level of demand, getting in is far from guaranteed.

Academically, St Joseph's sits in a challenging position within County Durham. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 45% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is well below the local authority average of 62% and places the school 143rd out of 170 primary schools in the county, in the bottom 50% nationally. Looking at individual subjects, reading fared best with 65% at expected and 25% at a higher standard, while maths saw 50% at expected and just 5% at a higher level. Writing had 75% at expected but only 5% at greater depth. The school's average scaled scores were 102 in reading and 98 in maths. Ofsted's most recent graded inspection, in 2013, rated overall effectiveness as Good, and an ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards were being maintained, with leadership and management also judged Good. The previous inspection in 2010 had also rated the school Good overall.

St Joseph's is a small Roman Catholic primary with 89 pupils on roll against a capacity of 157, so there is room to grow. It offers a nursery provision for children from age three. The school has a strong set of facilities for its size, including a sensory room, forest school area, chapel, library, sports hall and playing fields. Clubs range from coding and drama to eco club and gardening, and sports include football, netball, tennis and gymnastics. For children with special educational needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. The nearest outstanding-rated primary is Framwellgate Moor Primary School, 3.3 km away. For families who prioritise a Catholic ethos and a small, community-focused setting, St Joseph's is clearly in high demand, but those looking for stronger academic outcomes relative to the local area may want to explore other options.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate

Helpful Guides for Parents