St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe

In its own words: "At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, we are committed to following the example of St Joseph. Working closely with home and parish, we will surround our children with the love and encouragement they need to enable them to reach their full potential. In all we do we will Love God, Love Learning, Love One Another."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, choir, cooking and eco club.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £2.50 per session.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 89% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 57% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 20 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School are Stephenson Way Academy and Nursery School (0.1 miles, Good, 48% reading, 48% maths); Woodham Burn Community Primary School and Nursery (0.2 miles, 61% reading, 70% maths); St Francis Horndale CofE Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 42% reading, 33% maths); and Byerley Park Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 80% reading, 87% maths).

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is one of 35 schools run by Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

44.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 22 pupils (14.7%) received SEN support and 3 (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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Newton Aycliffe Rail Station, about 880 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Josephs School bus only (nw-bound), 30 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Joseph's Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 290 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School are Greenfield Academy (0.6 miles), Woodham Academy (1 mile) and UTC South Durham (1.8 miles).