St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, London

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades St Joseph's Catholic Primary School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have placed a high priority on attendance and punctuality."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "High levels of training for all staff ensure that they know how to identify pupils' needs swiftly and recognise where further support is needed."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school weaves an extensive personal development programme through every part of school life."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well in national tests and assessments at the end of Year 6."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have made extensive developments to the curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "The well-planned curriculum ensures that children experience and make progress in all 7 areas of learning, with classroom activities enabling children to practise and apply their learning independently."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders' impact on the school is considerable in a relatively short time."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the carefully designed curriculum is taught consistently well in all subjects and year groups, so that pupils secure sound and detailed knowledge and skills across all elements of the curriculum"; "Leaders and those responsible for governance should build on current work to grow leadership expertise at all levels, including subject leadership, to enhance strategic oversight and development of the school's work"; "Leaders should ensure that staff in early years maximise opportunities to engage children in high-quality interactions and learning throughout the day".

In its own words: "At St Joseph`s School, we grow and learn together within a loving and caring environment, placing Jesus at the heart of all we do. We are respectful We are kind and helpful We are forgiving We are honest We listen We are ambitious"

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am very proud to be the Headteacher of such a wonderful school and dedicated team of staff. St Joseph’s is a Roman Catholic School situated in the heart of Bermondsey. We are very blessed to have such an expansive, well cared for and modern school site which provides a wonderful environment in which our children learn and grow."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance and art.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am, from £4.00 per day.

In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 80% in Southwark and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 71% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 40 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 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 James' Church of England Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 79% reading, 75% maths); Riverside Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 85% reading, 91% maths); Tower Bridge Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths); and Hermitage Primary School (0.4 miles, 86% reading, 89% maths).

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is one of 16 schools run by St Oscar Romero Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.

16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (as of September 2026): 75% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

In 2026, 25 pupils (9.7%) received SEN support and 4 (1.6%) 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.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest Underground station is Bermondsey Underground Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Jamaica Road / Abbey Street, 120 metres away.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School are St Michael's Catholic College (under 0.1 miles), The Charter School Bermondsey (0.4 miles) and Harris Academy Bermondsey (0.4 miles).