St Joseph's RC Junior School, London
St Joseph's RC Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in London. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 726th-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 7,842nd of 14,452 across England. It was 78% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2018)
- Capacity
- 78% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Joseph's RC Junior School in detail
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's RC Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 80% in Croydon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 68% in reading and 68% 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 RC Junior School
Across Croydon, 90% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Croydon lodged 57 appeals against primary school offers; 27 reached a hearing and 1 succeeded (3.7% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's RC Junior School are St Joseph's RC Infant School (under 0.1 miles, Good); St Luke's Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 79% reading, 75% maths); Downsview Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Good, 93% reading, 93% maths); and Rockmount Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 89% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Joseph's RC Junior School.
St Joseph's RC Infant SchoolSt Luke's Church of England Primary SchoolDownsview Primary and Nursery SchoolRockmount Primary School
What parents say
34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Joseph's RC Junior School (as of September 2025): 71% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Who goes there
34.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 40.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (56%), Mixed (18%) and White British (5%).
In 2026, 38 pupils (22.5%) received SEN support and 2 (1.2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
St Joseph's RC Junior School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gipsy Hill Station, about 1130 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Norwood School, 170 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Joseph's RC Junior School issued 2 suspensions, 1 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 RC Junior School are The Norwood School (0.1 miles), St Joseph's College (0.3 miles), Hillcrest (0.4 miles) and Silburn Reid (0.5 miles).
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 school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a warm, welcoming environment where your child will feel cared for and proud to attend. With excellent behaviour standards, strong support for reading, and a focus on both academic achievement and emotional wellbeing, your child will thrive. The school offers a wide range of clubs and activities so every pupil can explore their interests.
Key Strengths
- Excellent pupil behaviour and a harmonious, caring environment where pupils support each other
- Strong reading promotion with daily independent reading time, Book Week events, and intensive support for weaker readers
- Well-designed broad curriculum with consistent approaches in mathematics that help pupils develop secure knowledge and problem-solving skills
- High attendance rates and strong focus on pupils' emotional and mental health wellbeing
- High aspirations for achievement with recent changes showing positive impact on pupil outcomes
Areas for Improvement
- Staff sometimes don't pick up and address pupils' mistakes during lessons, leaving some pupils with misconceptions
- Support for pupils with SEND is inconsistent - sometimes ineffective, leaving pupils struggling and not developing independence
- Variability in curriculum implementation across some subjects
- New initiatives need more time to embed and show full impact
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Extensive range of extra-curricular clubs and activities, educational trips, workshops, Book Week events including bedtime read, poetry recitals, house captain roles, pupil well-being leader roles, pupil senior leadership team positions
St Joseph's RC Junior School has maintained the high standards from its previous outstanding inspection. Pupils are proud to attend this friendly and welcoming school where they display excellent behaviour and have access to extensive extra-curricular activities.
At a Glance
34.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
34 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 68% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 71% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 67% to 88% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.1
Avg class size
24.1
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Joseph's RC Junior School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Joseph's RC Junior School.
- Stagecoach Upper NorwoodAt the school · Not yet graded
- Camp Olympia Fidelis490m away · Not yet graded
- St Luke's School Extended Club Premier F4F Group660m away · Not yet graded
- Sporting Champs700m away · Not yet graded
- Rockmount School Holiday Club Premier F4F Group710m away · Not yet graded
- Holiplay Kids Club Downsview780m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Joseph's RC Junior School is a voluntary aided school, 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 RC Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's RC Junior School 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
- 77
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 77 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 63 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
78%
Available places
188 pupils
240 places
52 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
4,828
Applications
4,082
Got 1st preference
89.6%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Croydon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
38
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
23.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
169
Total Pupils
81
Boys
88
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
13.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,329
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,501
Per pupil
£1437k
Total funding
£108k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
15.5%
Persistent absence
206
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
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's RC Junior School
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's RC Junior School?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's RC Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 71% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's RC Junior School's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's RC Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2018, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's RC Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's RC Junior School 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 RC Junior School?
St Joseph's RC Junior School was not full in 2025: it ran at 78% of its 240 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's RC Junior School?
Classes at St Joseph's RC Junior School average 24.1 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Joseph's RC Junior School?
St Joseph's RC Junior School has around 169 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's RC Junior School?
6.1% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's RC Junior School in 2024/25. 15.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's RC Junior School?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's RC Junior School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does St Joseph's RC Junior School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Stagecoach Upper Norwood (registered, not yet graded). There are 5 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's RC Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 77 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 63 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 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 RC Junior School?
St Joseph's RC Junior School is at Woodend, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 3NU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)