Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
The information below is kept for reference.
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy, Cleethorpes
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Cleethorpes, part of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 8 schools in Cleethorpes with published results, and 14,417th of 14,452 across England. It was 37% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North East Lincolnshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 25% of Year 6 pupils at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 33% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 77% in North East Lincolnshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 70% in reading and 52% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy
For September 2025 entry, 6 families put Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 9 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2025 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy are Bursar Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 84% reading, 81% maths); Middlethorpe Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 94% reading, 97% maths); Old Clee Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 82% maths); and Thrunscoe Primary and Nursery Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 79% reading, 84% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy.
Bursar Primary AcademyMiddlethorpe Primary AcademyOld Clee Primary AcademyThrunscoe Primary and Nursery Academy
The trust
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy is one of 36 schools run by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
All 36 schools in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust
Who goes there
36.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 8 pupils (13.1%) received SEN support and 13 (21.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cleethorpes Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Warwick Road (adjacent), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy issued 21 suspensions, 24.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 10 months agoThis judgement is from June 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school has made positive steps to improve behaviour and create a calmer learning environment through clear systems that staff and pupils understand. Bullying is rare and handled effectively when it occurs. Staff are becoming more positive and optimistic following recent leadership changes, and relationships with parents are improving.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed
- Behaviour has improved significantly - the school is calmer and more settled, with pupils and parents appreciating weekly recognition assemblies
- Bullying is rare and dealt with effectively when it occurs
- Positive relationships between pupils and staff are developing
- Phonics and early mathematics teaching is well-sequenced in the early years
Areas for Improvement
- Pupil achievement in reading, writing and mathematics is significantly below national levels and has been declining
- Large gaps exist in pupils' knowledge across all age groups, limiting their readiness for secondary school
- Curriculum in many subjects lacks ambition, structure and coherence with knowledge not properly sequenced
- Teaching does not routinely adapt activities to support pupils with special educational needs or disadvantaged pupils
- Attendance remains below national averages despite recent improvement efforts
- Limited enrichment activities and wider experiences for pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met. Leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Anti-Bullying Week, Advent retreat, visits from paramedics and fire service, planned future trips
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy requires significant improvement. The school has experienced substantial leadership and staffing changes over recent years, which has negatively impacted pupil achievement and the quality of education.
At a Glance
36.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 70% to 25% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 52% to 33% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 56% to 8% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
19.5
Avg class size
19.5
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy
Term dates
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see North East Lincolnshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy is in North East Lincolnshire; for families living there:
- North East Lincolnshire's school travel policy: Home-to-School Transport Policy 2027 -2028
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
37%
Available places
77 pupils
210 places
133 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Cleethorpes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cleethorpes
Across North East Lincolnshire council
Places available
2,175
Applications
1,358
Got 1st preference
97.4%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across North East Lincolnshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
34.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
61
Total Pupils
31
Boys
30
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
10.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,870
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,226
Per pupil
£683k
Total funding
£45k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.8%
Overall absence
19.5%
Persistent absence
82
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy
What are SATs results like at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
Of the pupils at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 25% reached the expected standard in reading and 33% did so in maths.
What is Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy is oversubscribed, North East Lincolnshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 37% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
Classes at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy average 19.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy has around 61 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
6.8% of sessions were missed at Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 19.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
Apply through North East Lincolnshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Where is Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy?
Saint Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy is at Philip Avenue, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, DN35 9DL.