St Joseph's R.C. Primary School, Colwyn Bay

St Joseph's R.C. Primary School is an English-medium school in Wales. Welsh schools are inspected by Estyn rather than Ofsted, and its latest report is published on Estyn's website.

It had 234 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

26% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 7% have additional learning needs (18% in 2020/21); 12% are learning English as an additional language; and 18% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 29 pupils (Year 2) to 31 (Year 1).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £4,546 per pupil, against £3,756 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £8k.

Estyn's report on its June 2026 inspection summarises St Joseph's R.C. Primary School like this:

"Leaders, staff and governors ensure that St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is a welcoming and caring environment through their clear commitment to high levels of inclusion and well-being. Nearly all pupils are friendly and polite and enjoy coming to school, where they feel valued and cared for. Younger pupils benefit from engaging and purposeful learning experiences that are adapted to meet their needs and develop their independence. In classes for older pupils, too often, teaching lacks pace, purpose and challenge, and lessons do not move pupils’ learning forward well enough. A minority of pupils do not engage with their learning as it does not meet their needs and interests, and low-level disruption emerges. Feedback is inconsistent and does not enable pupils to improve their work or identify the next steps in their learning."

"This means that too many pupils do not make the progress of which they are capable. Leaders do not address the inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and learning for older pupils sufficiently through self-evaluation and professional learning. Nearly all pupils are articulate and talk clearly and thoughtfully. Most pupils read confidently with good understanding. Younger pupils develop their knowledge of letters and sounds effectively and many older pupils show a good understand of more complex texts. However, inconsistencies in the teaching of writing mean that a minority of pupils do not make good enough progress."

"Many staff model the Welsh language effectively and most pupils are able to ask and answer a range of questions well. Most pupils’ make good progress in their digital skills and many pupils’ numeracy skills develop suitably as they move through the school. Opportunities for pupils to apply their numeracy skills across the curriculum are limited. A report on St Joseph's Catholic Primary School"

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Ensure that senior leaders focus on improving the quality of teaching, particularly in the classes for older pupils; (2) Ensure that leaders’ use of self-evaluation and monitoring activities bring about necessary improvement in pupils’ standards; (3) Ensure that teaching and provision supports pupils to develop their skills progressively as they move through the school; (4) Ensure that teaching and assessment challenges pupils at a suitable level and that feedback helps them to make progress with their learning.

Estyn follow-up status: Significant Improvement.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's R.C. Primary School are Ysgol Pen Y Bryn (0.6 miles), Ysgol Nant Y Groes (0.7 miles), Ysgol Bod Alaw (0.9 miles) and Llandrillo Yn Rhos Primary School (1.1 miles).

The nearest railway station is Colwyn Bay Rail Station, about 560 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pwllycrochan Avenue (after), 80 metres away.