St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield, Rowlands Gill
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Rowlands Gill. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 62 schools in Gateshead with published results, and 1,534th of 14,452 across England. It was 69% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- 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 Gateshead (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield in detail
Results
In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Gateshead and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 82% in reading and 45% 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 Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield
For September 2026 entry, 6 families put St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield as their first choice and 22 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield are Highfield Community Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 71% reading, 93% maths); Rowlands Gill Community Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 61% reading, 74% maths); High Spen Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 86% reading, 71% maths); and Burnopfield Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 84% reading, 90% maths).
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Highfield Community Primary SchoolRowlands Gill Community Primary SchoolHigh Spen Primary SchoolBurnopfield Primary School
Who goes there
11.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Black (7%).
In 2026, 33 pupils (40.7%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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 Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield had 6 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
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highfield St Josephs Rc Primary School (w-bound), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 44 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a warm, welcoming community where children feel genuinely happy and safe. Staff know your child well and have high expectations for all learners, including those with additional needs. Your child will enjoy a carefully planned curriculum, calm classrooms, and plenty of opportunities to take on responsibilities and enjoy activities like guitar club, gardening club and local history visits.
Key Strengths
- Strong early reading programme with phonics taught consistently and books matched to pupils' learning level
- Well-planned mathematics curriculum with clear small steps for success and good staff training
- Caring relationships between staff and pupils with calm, inclusive learning environments
- Effective support for pupils with SEND through prompt identification and dedicated, ambitious provision
- Wide range of school visits and after-school clubs enjoyed by all pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum planning in some subjects like geography does not clearly show how skills progress in mixed-age classes, limiting challenge for pupils
- Assessment procedures to check what pupils know and remember are not fully embedded into teaching, so leaders lack clear understanding of pupil knowledge in some subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with appropriate policies and checks in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Guitar club, gardening club, school council, buddy roles for new starters, school visits to local landmarks linked to Roman history
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School is a good school where pupils are confident, kind and welcoming, with high expectations for learning shared by all staff and governors. Leaders know their school community well and create a happy, safe environment where all pupils, including those with SEND, are valued and supported.
At a Glance
30.9%
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 improved from 82% to 93% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 45% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 73% to 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
20.3
Avg class size
11.5
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
4
Total classes
1 class 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 Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield is in Gateshead; for families living there:
Apply to Gateshead for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
0 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 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 Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Gateshead, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Gateshead 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
82 pupils
119 places
37 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rowlands Gill
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rowlands Gill
Across Gateshead council
Places available
2,494
Applications
1,785
Got 1st preference
98.1%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Gateshead council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
33
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
40.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
81
Total Pupils
38
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
13.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,830
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,500
Per pupil
£600k
Total funding
£30k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.2%
Overall absence
5.2%
Persistent absence
77
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 93% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield is oversubscribed, Gateshead 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 Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield was not full in 2025: it ran at 69% of its 119 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
Classes at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield average 20.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield has around 81 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
3.2% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield in 2024/25. 5.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield 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 Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 0 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield is at Whinfield Way, Highfield, Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear, NE39 2JE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)