St Joseph's RC Primary School

About St Joseph's RC Primary School

Parents considering St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Tameside will be encouraged by the strong vote of confidence from local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 30 applications for just 18 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.67 applicants per spot. All 18 first-preference families were offered a place, which suggests that for those who prioritise the school, entry is achievable but not guaranteed. The school’s Roman Catholic character is central to its identity, and with a nursery on site, it caters for children from age three right through to Year 6. The headteacher, Deirdre Kellett, leads a relatively small school of 167 pupils against a capacity of 210, meaning there is some room for growth. Just over a fifth of pupils (21.2%) are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average and points to a genuinely inclusive intake.

Academically, St Joseph’s performs solidly within the local context. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is five percentage points above the Tameside average of 62%. The school’s ranking of 21st out of 57 primary schools in the borough places it in the top 40% locally, and nationally it sits in the 37th percentile. Average scores in reading (105) and maths (106) are both above the national benchmark of 100, and the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in maths (30%) is notably stronger than in reading (33%) or writing (10%). The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in September 2023, confirmed that it remains Good overall, a rating it has held consistently since its last graded inspection in 2014. Leadership and management were also judged Good.

Beyond the classroom, St Joseph’s offers a practical range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school area, chapel, library and playing fields. Sports provision covers netball, athletics, gymnastics and cricket, while clubs extend to gardening, drama, science and eco activities. The school has identified three specific SEND categories it supports: moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. For families seeking a faith-based primary with a strong local reputation, St Joseph’s is a realistic and well-regarded option. It is not the highest-performing school in Tameside — the nearest Outstanding-rated alternative, Millbrook Primary, is 2.4 km away — but its consistent Good rating, above-average KS2 outcomes and oversubscribed status all point to a school that local parents trust and want to get into.

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