St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

About St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Havering is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 135 applications for just 60 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.25. Of those, 61 families put it as their first preference, and 57 of them were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the community, though it does mean securing a spot is competitive. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 411 children against a capacity of 420. Just 4.4 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well below the national average and points to a relatively affluent intake. The headteacher is Michael Ross, who leads a school that has held a Good rating from Ofsted across both its most recent inspections.

Academically, St Joseph's performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, 79 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Havering average of 65 per cent. That result places the school 7th out of 49 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 25 per cent nationally. The average scores in reading and maths both sit at 109, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 18 per cent of pupils achieved in all three subjects, while 40 per cent hit the higher mark in maths and 45 per cent in reading. Ofsted's 2022 inspection rated every category as Good, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. The previous inspection in 2015 also awarded Good overall, though early years was graded as Requires Improvement at that time.

The school offers a solid range of facilities and activities. There is an ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, a sensory room, a chapel, and a forest school area, plus playing fields and an outdoor playground. Sports include football, cricket, dance, cross country and rounders, while clubs cover drama, choir, chess, book club, film club and art club. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, social and emotional challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given the oversubscription, families with a Catholic connection or living nearby will want to check the admissions criteria carefully. This is a school that suits parents looking for strong academic results within a faith-based setting, but they should be prepared for a competitive entry process.

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