St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bristol
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bristol. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 46th-highest of the 198 schools in Bristol with published results, and 3,885th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bristol, City of (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 84% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Bristol, City of; and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 70% in reading and 63% 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 Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 21 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School are Chester Park Infant School (0.2 miles, Good); Chester Park Junior School (0.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 61% maths); Minerva Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 87% reading, 83% maths); and Fishponds CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 61% reading, 69% maths).
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Chester Park Infant SchoolChester Park Junior SchoolMinerva Primary AcademyFishponds CofE Primary School
Who goes there
13.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 36.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (24%), White British (21%) and Asian (21%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stapleton Road Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Forest Road (nw-bound), 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School are Bristol Brunel Academy (0.4 miles) and Bristol Metropolitan Academy (0.7 miles).
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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from May 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2012 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
13.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 70% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 63% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 37% to 56% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.4
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
31.5
KS2
7
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School.
- Premier Education At Fishponds C Of E Academy770m away · Not yet graded
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, with their latest published grades:
- Rozey Days Montessori Ltd - Day nursery, 0.3 milesOfsted, 13 June 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
- Partou Stepping Stones Day Nursery & Pre-School - Day nursery, 0.3 milesOfsted report card, 30 April 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- St Joseph's Pre-School - Pre-school, 0.3 miles
- Mama Bear's Day Nursery - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted, 24 July 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Mama Bear's Day Nursery - Day nursery, 0.5 milesOfsted, 5 April 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Term dates
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Bristol, City of's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is in Bristol, City of; for families living there:
- Bristol, City of's school travel policy: Home to school travel policy
- How to apply: Apply online for home school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 35
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 28 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
11 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
For 2026 entry it had 21 first choices for 23 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
211 pupils
210 places
1 pupil over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Bristol, City of council
Places available
5,210
Applications
4,287
Got 1st preference
92.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Bristol, City of council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Eastville, Frome Vale & Hillfields Primary planning area (Bristol, City of) will have 984 spare primary places in 2027/28.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
34
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
19.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
213
Total Pupils
95
Boys
118
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
17.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,616
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,540
Per pupil
£1259k
Total funding
£38k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
8.0%
Persistent absence
187
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 Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 84% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2022, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in May 2012, it was rated Good.
Is it hard to get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School average 30.4 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils.
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School has around 213 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 8% of pupils were persistently absent.
Does St Joseph's Catholic Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School: Premier Education At Fishponds C Of E Academy (770m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 28 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 11 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is at Chatsworth Road, Fishponds, Bristol, Bristol, BS16 3QR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)