St Joseph's Catholic Primary School has closed (Tuesday 30 June 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now St Joseph's Catholic Primary School.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Dorking
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Dorking. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 6 schools in Dorking with published results, and 4,333rd of 14,452 across England. It was 90% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- 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 Surrey (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Surrey and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 71% in reading and 67% 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, 22 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 58 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 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (under 0.1 miles); St Paul's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles); Powell Corderoy Primary School (0.4 miles, 83% reading, 80% maths); and St Martin's CofE Primary School (0.6 miles, 81% reading, 85% maths).
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolSt Paul's CofE Primary SchoolPowell Corderoy Primary SchoolSt Martin's CofE Primary School
Who goes there
7.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 40.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (48%), Asian (11%) and Black (9%).
In 2026, 19 pupils (11.7%) received SEN support and 2 (1.2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Dorking West Rail Station, about 860 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Vincent Lane (n-bound), 130 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from October 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
7.4%
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 71% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 85% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 83% to 88% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.1
Avg class size
20.0
Infant (KS1)
25.5
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
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.
- Y-Kids St Joseph's DorkingAt the school · Not yet graded
- Action House Childcare Limited520m away · Not yet graded
- art-K Dorking600m away · Not yet graded
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, with their latest published grades:
- St Pauls Church Nursery School - Pre-school, 0.2 milesOfsted report card, 20 November 2025: Strong standard in 5 areas, Expected standard in 1 area; safeguarding standards met
- Busy Bees Day Nursery at Dorking Westcott Road - Day nursery, 0.2 milesOfsted, 4 April 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
- Bright Horizons Dorking Day Nursery and Preschool - Day nursery, 0.6 milesOfsted, 29 November 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Stagecoach Dorking - Pre-school, 0.6 miles
- Busy Bees Day Nursery at Dorking Chichester Road - Day nursery, 1.1 milesOfsted, 15 January 2025: 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 Surrey's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
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 Surrey; for families living there:
- Surrey's school travel policy: Travel Assistance Policy for under 16s
- How to apply: Apply online for under 16 travel help
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
170 pupils
189 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Surrey council
Places available
13,004
Applications
11,426
Got 1st preference
89.8%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Dorking Area Primary planning area (Surrey) will have 281 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
19
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
13.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
162
Total Pupils
65
Boys
97
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
14.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,462
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,587
Per pupil
£1058k
Total funding
£30k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.5%
Overall absence
11.2%
Persistent absence
161
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 85% 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 March 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, 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 not full in 2025: it ran at 90% of its 189 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School average 23.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School has around 162 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
5.5% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 11.2% 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 at the school: Y-Kids St Joseph's Dorking (registered, not yet graded). There are 2 more within a kilometre.
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is at Norfolk Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 3JA.