St Joseph's College, London
St Joseph's College is a secondary school for boys aged 11 to 18 in London, part of St Joseph's College Delasalle. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 210th-highest of the 266 schools in London with published results, and 1,988th of 3,298 across England. It was 69% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Croydon (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's College in detail
St Joseph's College in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, tennis, basketball, drama, film, debating and Duke of Edinburgh.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at St Joseph's College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.4 in Croydon and 47 across England.
42% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in Croydon and 47% in England.
That is down from 45.5 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.04: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 41.1, against 46.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 5.5 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Statistics.
Getting a place at St Joseph's College
For September 2026 entry, 49 families put St Joseph's College as their first choice and 188 named it as one of their preferences, for 84 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to St Joseph's College are Silburn Reid (0.2 miles); The Norwood School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.9); Bishop Thomas Grant Catholic Secondary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 58.6); and Hillcrest (0.7 miles).
Each of them had higher 2026 results than St Joseph's College.
Silburn ReidThe Norwood SchoolBishop Thomas Grant Catholic Secondary SchoolHillcrest
The trust
St Joseph's College is run by its own single-school academy trust.
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Joseph's College (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 83% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (94%); the weakest, that their child feels safe (83%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 171 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.
Of the 118 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 64% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 14% into work. 6% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
37.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 63 pupils (8.5%) received SEN support and 24 (3.2%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is West Norwood Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Grecian Crescent (->s), 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Joseph's College issued 76 suspensions, 9.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to St Joseph's College are Crown Lane Primary School (0.2 miles), St Joseph's RC Junior School (0.3 miles), St Joseph's RC Infant School (0.4 miles) and Downsview Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Crown Lane Primary SchoolSt Joseph's RC Junior SchoolSt Joseph's RC Infant SchoolDownsview Primary and Nursery School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Joseph's College creates an inspiring learning environment where diversity is valued and pupils develop as well-rounded individuals. The school combines high academic expectations with strong pastoral care, helping pupils achieve well while developing their character and leadership skills. Teachers are responsive to individual pupil needs and use effective strategies to help all learners succeed.
Key Strengths
- Well-sequenced, broad curriculum that enables pupils to build knowledge and achieve well
- Teachers check understanding carefully and adapt teaching to make learning accessible for all pupils, including those with special needs
- Strong behaviour management with clear systems that create a harmonious school community
- Extensive enrichment activities including sports, languages, music, drama and visits to enhance learning
- Effective careers programme preparing pupils well for their next stage
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils' literacy skills, particularly in reading and writing, are limiting their access to the curriculum and achievement
- The school needs to fully embed its recently developed approaches to developing pupils' literacy skills across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school prioritises pupils' interests with an open and positive culture.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports, languages, music, drama, anime, visits to British Film Institute, Cambridge University and overseas locations, school council, mock United Nations General Assembly, prefect roles, sixth-form leadership team, peer reading support, fundraising events
St Joseph's College is an inspiring, caring community where pupils thrive academically and personally. The school has maintained good standards with exceptional attendance rates and strong outcomes for students progressing to further education and employment.
At a Glance
37.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has improved from -0.22 to 0.04 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 46.0 to 44.0 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 45% to 42% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 44.0 | 41.7% |
| Disadvantaged(70) | - | 41.1 | 40% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(81) | - | 46.6 | 43.2% |
| Boys(151) | - | 44.0 | 41.7% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(21) | - | 49.0 | 52.4% |
| Non mobile(148) | - | 43.7 | 40.5% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 1 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 171 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
76
Suspensions
9.42%
Suspension rate
60 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 807 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with St Joseph's College
Term dates
St Joseph's College is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Croydon's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's College is in Croydon; for families living there:
Apply to Croydon for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 74
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 74 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 63 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
14 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 Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 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 College
Will you get a place at St Joseph's College? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's College's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's College:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's College.
- Croydon publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Joseph's College that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's College for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Croydon 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
69%
Available places
803 pupils
1,164 places
361 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Croydon council
Places available
4,025
Applications
4,184
Got 1st preference
71.2%
Got preferred school
95.3%
All secondary applications across Croydon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
63
SEN Support
24
EHC Plans
11.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
739
Total Pupils
731
Boys
8
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
54
Teachers
13.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,130
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,255
Per pupil
£5892k
Total funding
£304k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.8%
Overall absence
17.4%
Persistent absence
690
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Joseph's College
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's College
What are GCSE results like at St Joseph's College?
In the 2026 results, pupils at St Joseph's College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44. 42% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is St Joseph's College's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's College?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's College is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Joseph's College?
St Joseph's College was not full in 2025: it ran at 69% of its 1164 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's College?
Classes at St Joseph's College average 16.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's College?
St Joseph's College has around 739 pupils on roll. 37% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's College?
5.8% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's College in 2024/25. 17.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's College?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's College on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 74 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 63 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 14 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 Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's College?
St Joseph's College is at Beulah Hill, London, SE19 3HL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)