SchoolScoresSt Joseph's Catholic College
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Part of ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR
01793 714200 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 November 2014.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 November 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Swindon comparisons use the 6 of its 16 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 70% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 77% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 18% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 64% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 29% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 42% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 8% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 54% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Swindon. Higher than 20% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63%said yes | 63% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Swindon figures pool parents at the Swindon schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
278 pupils in this year group.
28% — 15 points below the Swindon average, and 18 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 28% | 43% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 38 | 44 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
272 pupils in this year group.
98% — 6 points above the Swindon average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 98% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 8% | 19% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 16% | 19% | 13% |
| Further education college | 71% | 47% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 98% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Swindon. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 256 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 237 |
| Of those, offered a place | 237 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 426 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 60 places for other difficulties or disabilities; Speech, language and communication needs; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.8% | 25.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.6% | 3.6%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 19% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 14.8%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 70% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.4% | 19.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 8.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 61% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 21.3% | 23.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 30% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 25.4 | 34.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Lower than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 9.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.26% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 71% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.8 | 17.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.8 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Swindon. Higher than 21% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 13.0%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Lawn Manor Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- UTC Swindon 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Dorcan Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Commonweal School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed, may be improving 2023 · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Swindon Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 5 expected · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kingsdown School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- Nova Hreod Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Deanery CofE Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion) · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Joseph's Catholic College's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 November 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 November 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Joseph's Catholic College do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 28% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 18 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend St Joseph's Catholic College?
63% of the 49 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Joseph's Catholic College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Joseph's Catholic College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 237 families put St Joseph's Catholic College as their first choice for 256 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 237 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 136980.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.