St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston, Wednesbury
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Wednesbury. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 14 schools in Wednesbury with published results, and 1,876th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.4 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Walsall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston in detail
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Our school mission ' Guided by Jesus, Learning together, Striving for Excellence' underpins all that we do. St Joseph's is a small primary school serving the diverse community of Darlaston where the children are taught in a caring and nurturing environment. We work in partnership with our pupils, parents, staff and governors."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston reached the expected standard in reading and 84% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Walsall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 63% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston
For September 2026 entry, 43 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston as their first choice and 64 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 13 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston are Woods Bank Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 76% reading, 78% maths); Old Church Church of England C Primary School (0.3 miles); Pinfold Street Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 67% reading, 77% maths); and Salisbury Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 74% reading, 71% maths).
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Woods Bank AcademyOld Church Church of England C Primary SchoolPinfold Street Primary SchoolSalisbury Primary School
Who goes there
35.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 70 pupils (28.6%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darlaston Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Willenhall Street (before), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston issued 1 suspension, 0.4 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, Darlaston are Grace Academy Darlaston (0.5 miles); St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall (0.6 miles); and Moseley Park (1.4 miles).
Grace Academy DarlastonSt Thomas More Catholic School, WillenhallMoseley Park
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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Joseph's provides an exceptional education in a calm, orderly environment where pupils are happy and safe. Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and plan engaging lessons that help all pupils, including the most disadvantaged, achieve highly. The school offers a rich curriculum with strong Catholic values, excellent reading teaching, outstanding support for children with SEND, and wonderful opportunities to broaden talents through clubs, trips and visits.
Key Strengths
- Excellent teaching of reading using phonics, with quick identification and support for pupils who fall behind
- Ambitious, well-planned curriculum with outstanding subject knowledge from teachers
- Exemplary pupil behaviour in a calm, purposeful environment with strong support for those who struggle
- Exceptional support for pupils with SEND who achieve exceptionally well
- Outstanding personal development including learning about different religions, cultures, healthy lifestyles and mental health strategies
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective - staff are trained to identify welfare concerns, leaders respond robustly, and rigorous vetting checks are undertaken before staff start work.
Extracurricular Activities
Mathematics ambassadors, science ambassadors, Mini Vinnies, sports clubs, museum visits, orchestra performance, theatre production, outdoor residential
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary is an exceptional school where leaders are highly ambitious for every child to succeed. The school has improved significantly from its previous 'Requires improvement' rating to achieve 'Outstanding' across all areas.
At a Glance
35.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 63% to 94% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 80% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 67% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.1
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston
Year 6 breakfast
19 May 2026
Assault Course fun!
19 May 2026
Canoeing fun!
19 May 2026
Raft building
19 May 2026
Lunch time
19 May 2026
Year 6 Fencing
19 May 2026
From St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston
Before and after school care
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston 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 Walsall
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston.
- Happy Hours Childcare Ltd430m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Walsall's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston is in Walsall; for families living there:
Apply to Walsall 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
- 7
- Children hurt
- 5
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, 7 serious and 14 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot.
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 Walsall is 20.5 (the median across 134 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, Darlaston
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Walsall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Walsall 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
102%
Over capacity
215 pupils
210 places
5 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wednesbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wednesbury
Across Walsall council
Places available
3,855
Applications
3,340
Got 1st preference
93.8%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across Walsall council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
70
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
30.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
245
Total Pupils
116
Boys
129
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
18.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,455
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,263
Per pupil
£1514k
Total funding
£130k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
10.5%
Persistent absence
191
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, Darlaston
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 84% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston is oversubscribed, Walsall 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, Darlaston?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston average 29.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston has around 245 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
4.6% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston in 2024/25. 10.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
Apply through Walsall's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston 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, Darlaston have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston 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 an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston: Happy Hours Childcare Ltd (430m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
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, 7 serious and 14 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot. 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 Walsall is 20.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Darlaston is at Rough Hay Road, Darlaston, Wednesbury, WS10 8HN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)