St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch, Christchurch
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Christchurch. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 10 schools in Christchurch with published results, and 4,333rd of 14,452 across England. It was 96% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch in detail
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (88% in reading, 81% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch
For September 2026 entry, 21 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 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, Christchurch
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch are Somerford Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 66% reading, 48% maths); Mudeford Junior School (0.8 miles, Good, 85% reading, 86% maths); Mudeford Community Infants' School (0.8 miles, Good); and Burton Church of England Primary School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, 69% reading, 67% maths).
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Somerford Primary SchoolMudeford Junior SchoolMudeford Community Infants' SchoolBurton Church of England Primary School
Who goes there
7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Staffing
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hinton Admiral Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Josephs School (s-bound), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 110 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (223).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch are The Grange School (0.5 miles), Highcliffe School (1.1 miles) and Twynham School (1.8 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Community is at the heart of this nurturing and caring school. Pupils live out the school's vision to 'let your light shine' through their day-to-day interactions with one another and with adults. Pupils are polite, kind and caring. They have impeccable manners and treat adults with the utmost respect. Relationships between adults and pupils are positive. Pupils feel happy, safe and valued.
The school has high expectations and aspirations for all pupils. Pupils meet these expectations well. There is a purposeful and calm learning atmosphere, which begins in Reception Year. Children understand and consistently follow the routines that are in place. Older pupils model these well. They demonstrate 'fantastic walking' as they move around the school. During playtimes and lunchtimes, pupils of all ages play together harmoniously. This makes it an enjoyable experience for all.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum. Opportunities to enrich pupils' learning are carefully considered. The school has identified the important knowledge that pupils need to learn in most curriculum subjects. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are at the forefront of the curriculum design. Teachers adapt learning effectively for these pupils. Additional 'scaffolds' and adults' swift intervention help all pupils to progress well through the intended curriculum.
From Ofsted's June 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
31.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 88% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 81% to 85% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.8
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
29.3
KS2
5
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch
St Joseph's School Newsletter 15th May 2026
15 May 2026
St Joseph's School Newsletter 8th May 2026
8 May 2026
St Joseph's School Newsletter 1st May 2026
1 May 2026
St Joseph's School Newsletter 24th April 2026
24 Apr 2026
St Joseph's School Newsletter 17th April 2026
17 Apr 2026
St Joseph's School Newsletter 27th March 2026
27 Mar 2026
From St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch
Before and after school care
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch.
- Pouncing Panthers Limited800m away · Not yet graded
- Little Prems 5 SPS860m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch is in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; for families living there:
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 21 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
3 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 24 (the median across 117 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, Christchurch
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch.
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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
96%
Near capacity
201 pupils
209 places
8 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Christchurch
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Christchurch
Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council
Places available
3,809
Applications
3,148
Got 1st preference
92.2%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All primary applications across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
41
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
25.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
199
Total Pupils
101
Boys
98
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
11.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,992
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,764
Per pupil
£1283k
Total funding
£92k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.1%
Overall absence
21.1%
Persistent absence
190
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, Christchurch
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 85% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch is oversubscribed, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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, Christchurch?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch average 28.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch has around 199 pupils on roll. 32% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
7.1% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch in 2024/25. 21.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
Apply through Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch 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, Christchurch have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch: Pouncing Panthers Limited (800m away, registered, not yet graded) and Little Prems 5 SPS (860m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 21 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 3 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 24 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch is at Dorset Road, Somerford, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 3DA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)