St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now St Joseph's Catholic Primary School.
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Sudbury
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Sudbury. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 15 schools in Sudbury with published results, and 7,353rd of 14,452 across England. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Suffolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School in detail
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 88% in reading and 88% 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 Roman Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 19 families put St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 29 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School are St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Tudor Church of England Primary School, Sudbury (0.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 72% maths); St Gregory Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 79% reading, 70% maths); and Woodhall Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 81% reading, 79% maths).
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolTudor Church of England Primary School, SudburySt Gregory Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolWoodhall Primary School
Who goes there
13.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 13 pupils (9.5%) received SEN support and 4 (2.9%) 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 Roman Catholic Primary School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Entrance, about 850 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is York Road (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 143 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; DfE school workforce census; 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from June 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2017 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
13.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 88% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 88% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 88% to 73% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School
Term dates
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Suffolk's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School is in Suffolk; for families living there:
Apply to Suffolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
156 pupils
175 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sudbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sudbury
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,806
Applications
6,492
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
12.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
137
Total Pupils
61
Boys
76
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
13.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,484
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,672
Per pupil
£947k
Total funding
£33k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.5%
Overall absence
14.2%
Persistent absence
141
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 175 places.
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School has around 137 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School?
5.5% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 14.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School 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.
Where is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School is at Beaconsfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 1JP.