St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham, Canterbury

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils make suitable progress through the curriculum from their starting points as they move through the school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured there is a broad and well-sequenced curriculum in place."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a curriculum that provides a successful start to children's educational journey."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an inclusive culture across the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a caring, supportive and ambitious culture, where pupils' best interests are prioritised."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from an inclusive and carefully planned personal development programme."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders emphasise the importance of regular attendance at school and celebrate high attendance."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to refine their assessment systems to ensure that they are used consistently and effectively, so that pupils build understanding securely across all subjects"; "Leaders should continue to embed their systems for promoting regular attendance so that pupils' attendance rates continue to rise and the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent continues to fall, so that pupils do not miss out on important learning".

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in Kent and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (88% in reading, 88% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 24 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham as their first choice and 48 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 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, Aylesham are Aylesham Primary School (0.5 miles); Nonington Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 17% reading, 17% maths); Adisham Church of England Primary School (1.3 miles, Outstanding, 75% reading, 81% maths); and Goodnestone Church of England Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 33% reading, 33% maths).

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

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham is one of 33 schools run by Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership, an academy trust.

35% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 35 pupils (25%) received SEN support and 1 (0.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Aylesham Rail Station, about 100 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Railway Station (outside), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 46 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).

In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham issued 6 suspensions, 5.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.