St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley, Stanley
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Stanley, part of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 15 schools in Stanley with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 96% 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 County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley in detail
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 71% in reading and 74% 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, Stanley
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley as their first choice and 34 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 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, Stanley
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley are East Stanley School (0.5 miles, 61% reading, 71% maths); South Stanley Infant and Nursery School (0.6 miles, Good); South Stanley Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 85% reading, 81% maths); and Shield Row Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 83% reading, 74% maths).
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
East Stanley SchoolSouth Stanley Infant and Nursery SchoolSouth Stanley Junior SchoolShield Row Primary School
The trust
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley is one of 47 schools run by Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 33 pupils (16.3%) received SEN support and 3 (1.5%) 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
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Royal Hotel (ne-bound), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 275 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley are North Durham Academy (0.2 miles) and Tanfield School (0.6 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; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in March 2021. Before that, as St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Stanley (URN 114245), it was rated Good in February 2012.
At a Glance
17.7%
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 71% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 74% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 74% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.9
Avg class size
27.3
Infant (KS1)
25.7
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley is in County Durham; for families living there:
- County Durham's school travel policy: School transport policies and strategies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school travel
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 35
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 30 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 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, Stanley
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from County Durham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley for 2022 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in County Durham 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
210 places
9 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Stanley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stanley
Across County Durham council
Places available
6,581
Applications
4,409
Got 1st preference
97.3%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across County Durham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
33
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
17.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
203
Total Pupils
95
Boys
108
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,263
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,433
Per pupil
£1237k
Total funding
£58k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.0%
Overall absence
9.7%
Persistent absence
176
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, Stanley
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 86% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in March 2021. Before that, as St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Stanley (URN 114245), it was rated Good in February 2012.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley is oversubscribed, County Durham 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, Stanley?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley average 24.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley has around 203 pupils on roll. 18% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
4% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley in 2024/25. 9.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley 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.
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 30 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley is at Front Street, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 0NP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)