St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Sale
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Sale, part of Corpus Christi Catholic Academy Trust. It has a Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 16 schools in Sale with published results, and 1,291st of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Trafford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 82% in Trafford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (93% in reading, 93% in maths).
Getting a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 42 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 121 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 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, a Voluntary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are Springfield Primary School (0.1 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 90% maths); St Anne's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 91% reading, 66% maths); St Mary's CofE Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 91% reading, 85% maths); and Templemoor Infant and Nursery School (0.7 miles, Good).
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Springfield Primary SchoolSt Anne's CofE Primary SchoolSt Mary's CofE Primary SchoolTemplemoor Infant and Nursery School
The trust
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is one of 15 schools run by Corpus Christi Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
156 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (as of September 2025): 89% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 51% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (51%).
Who goes there
4.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 38.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (51%), Asian (11%) and Mixed (11%).
In 2026, 55 pupils (12.6%) received SEN support and 9 (2.1%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Sale (Manchester Metrolink), about 220 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sibson Road (opposite), 220 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy issued 3 suspensions, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are Sale Grammar School (0.3 miles), Sale High School (0.8 miles) and Ashton-on-Mersey School (0.9 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2023. Before that, as St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (URN 106348), it was rated Outstanding in March 2009.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Joseph's is a warm, welcoming school where children thrive academically and personally. The school excels at teaching reading and writing from the early years, and ensures that all pupils - including those with additional needs - receive high-quality education tailored to their individual needs. Every child benefits from a rich curriculum enhanced by visits to cultural venues, visiting speakers, and community service opportunities that broaden their horizons and aspirations.
Key Strengths
- Carefully designed curriculum that helps pupils connect learning deeply across subjects and understand complex concepts
- Highly effective phonics teaching and early reading support, with almost all pupils reading fluently by end of Year 2
- Pupils with SEND are swiftly identified and receive high-quality education adapted to their needs
- Exceptional range of enrichment opportunities including visits to galleries, concert halls and science museums
- Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, with pupils demonstrating politeness, confidence and a strong sense of right and wrong
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Irish dancing, Gaelic football, school band, visits to art galleries and concert halls, science museum trips, sporting events
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is an outstanding school where pupils thrive in a nurturing, family atmosphere and are exceptionally well prepared for secondary school. The school has received outstanding grades across all key judgements including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
At a Glance
4.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
156 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 92% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 82% to 90% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.0
Avg class size
28.2
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
15
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, a Voluntary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy.
- Sports And All Wraparound Care LimitedAt the school · Not yet graded
- Trafford Tuition at Springfield Primary School250m away · Not yet graded
- Rocket Holiday Camps - Sale530m away · Not yet graded
- KUMON Sale Study Centre540m away · Not yet graded
- Bowen Education750m away · Not yet graded
- Sports And All Limited750m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Trafford's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is in Trafford; for families living there:
Apply to Trafford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 21
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 15 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
4 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. 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, a Voluntary Academy
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy.
- Trafford publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy for 2024 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Trafford got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
407 pupils
420 places
13 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sale
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sale
Across Trafford council
Places available
2,990
Applications
2,238
Got 1st preference
94.5%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Trafford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
55
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
14.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
437
Total Pupils
228
Boys
209
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
24.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,811
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2132k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.3%
Overall absence
4.6%
Persistent absence
367
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, a Voluntary Academy
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% reached the expected standard in reading and 92% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2023. Before that, as St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (URN 106348), it was rated Outstanding in March 2009.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy average 29 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy has around 437 pupils on roll. 5% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
3.3% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 4.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Sports And All Wraparound Care Limited (registered, not yet graded). There are 5 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 15 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 4 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 Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is at Marlborough Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 3AF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)