St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Barking

In its own words: "Our vision is to provide outstanding Catholic primary education to all children that we are blessed to have in our care. We believe that positive values instilled during our children's formative years will guide them through the rest of their lives, providing them with a firm foundation for success in whichever path is right for them."

From the headteacher's welcome: "St Joseph's strive to ensure that every pupil who attends our school experiences a positive, enriching and enabling experience in a holistic environment. We establish a culture of trust and mutual respect within our community so that all groups of learners are happy, safe, empowered and thrive ."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming, multi-sports, dance, drama and robotics.

The school runs a breakfast club.

The school week is 32.5 hours a week.

In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 80% in Barking and Dagenham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 81% in reading and 96% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 37 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 119 named it as one of their preferences, for 37 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 St Margarets CofE Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 91% reading, 98% maths); Gascoigne Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths); Greatfields Primary School (0.4 miles); and Northbury Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 82% maths).

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is one of 8 schools run by The Good Shepherd Catholic Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 78% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

81.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (64%), Mixed (12%) and Asian (10%).

In 2026, 46 pupils (19%) received SEN support and 4 (1.7%) 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.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School had 16 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest Underground station is Barking Underground Station, about 610 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Broadway Theatre, 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 810 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Barking and Dagenham (470), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.3 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 Greatfields School (0.4 miles), Langdon Academy (0.4 miles) and Eastbury Community School (0.8 miles).