St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Stockport

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have established rigorous systems to monitor pupils' attendance and punctuality."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Since the previous inspection, leaders have put a broad and balanced curriculum in place."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a suitable curriculum for the mixed-aged Nursery and Reception class."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have clear systems in place for the accurate identification of pupils' needs."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including those at trust level, know the school well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a coherent curriculum to support pupils' personal development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently enable pupils to recall their prior learning across the curriculum so that they can build their knowledge and skills securely"; "Leaders should ensure that gaps in pupils' handwriting and spelling skills are addressed, so that pupils, especially older pupils, secure accurate and fluent transcription skills"; "Leaders should further strengthen their work with families so that parents and carers are well informed about the decisions that are made to improve the school".

In its own words: "A s a Catholic community, with Jesus Christ as our role model, we aspire to create a nurturing, inclusive, and ambitious learning environment where every child feels valued, respected, and loved. Through kindness, compassion, and high expectations, we foster resilience, independence, and a lifelong love of learning."

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care until 6:00pm.

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 65% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Stockport and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 73% in reading and 59% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 9 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 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, a Voluntary Academy are St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles, 79% reading, 84% maths); St Thomas' Church of England Primary School Stockport (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 80% reading, 33% maths); Vernon Park Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 64% reading, 64% maths); and Our Lady's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 93% reading, 100% maths).

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

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.

38.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 43.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (38%), Asian (29%) and Black (20%).

In 2026, 8 pupils (7.9%) received SEN support and 7 (6.9%) 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, a Voluntary Academy had 7 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 railway station is Stockport Rail Station, about 540 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

39 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Petersgate (near), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy issued 6 suspensions, 5.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.