St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley, Chester le Street
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Chester le Street, part of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 16 schools in Chester le Street with published results, and 637th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Capacity
- 82% full
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley in detail
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley reached the expected standard in reading and 94% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Gateshead and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 89% in reading and 89% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
Across Gateshead, 98% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 100% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Gateshead lodged 27 appeals against primary school offers; 25 reached a hearing and 1 succeeded (4% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley are St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley (0.4 miles); Ravensworth Terrace Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 80% reading, 78% maths); Portobello Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 81% maths); and Barley Mow Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 60% reading, 63% maths).
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, BirtleyRavensworth Terrace Primary SchoolPortobello Primary SchoolBarley Mow Primary School
The trust
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is one of 47 schools run by Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley (as of September 2025): 81% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (69%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 18 pupils (17.1%) received SEN support and 8 (7.6%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Staffing
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Road, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.
20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Joseph's J And I School Birtley (n-bound), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 99 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley issued 8 suspensions, 8.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley are Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy (0.2 miles) and Oxclose Community Academy (1.2 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in November 2021. Before that, as St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley (URN 108388), it was rated Outstanding in April 2013.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Joseph's provides an exceptionally engaging learning environment where children develop strong reading, speaking and listening skills. The school combines ambitious academic expectations with outstanding personal development, helping pupils understand their role in society and celebrate diversity. Pupils leave very well prepared for secondary school with secure knowledge, exemplary behaviour, and high levels of confidence and resilience.
Key Strengths
- Reading is at the centre of an ambitious curriculum, with expert phonics teaching and strong support for struggling readers
- Outstanding oracy programme that develops pupils' speaking and listening skills to debate and question their learning
- Broad and richly designed curriculum with staff delivering skilfully and revisiting key knowledge to build secure understanding
- Exceptional personal development through history and geography that guides pupils to consider their role in society and understand diversity
- Exemplary pupil behaviour and high attendance supported by fair, clear expectations
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Museum visits, coast trips, theatre visits, residential visits, Korean language club, chess club, multisport club, drama club, school garden vegetable growing, breakfast club
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School in Birtley is a welcoming and highly inclusive school where pupils flourish and achieve exceptionally well. The school has received Outstanding grades across all key inspection areas - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
At a Glance
25.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 89% to 94% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 89% to 94% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 89% to 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.3
Avg class size
26.3
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
Before and after school care
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Gateshead
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is in Gateshead; for families living there:
Apply to Gateshead for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
97 pupils
119 places
22 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Chester le Street
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chester le Street
Across Gateshead council
Places available
2,494
Applications
1,785
Got 1st preference
98.1%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Gateshead council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
24.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
105
Total Pupils
62
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
13.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,426
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,380
Per pupil
£708k
Total funding
£47k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.6%
Overall absence
7.9%
Persistent absence
101
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 94% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in November 2021. Before that, as St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley (URN 108388), it was rated Outstanding in April 2013.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 119 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley average 26.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley has around 105 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
3.6% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley in 2024/25. 7.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley?
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley is at School Street, Birtley, Chester le Street, County Durham, DH3 2PN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)