St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Catholic · Nursery class

Part of CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST

Marlborough Road, Sale, M33 3AF

0161 973 4938 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 7 May 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths85%England 62% · 2024/25
4th highest of 16 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 94% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils437Room for 420 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 457 in 2019, 454 in 2021, 453 in 2022, 451 in 2023, 446 in 2024, 432 in 2025, 437 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.042 for 44 places, September 2026
14th highest of 16 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 39% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 7 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Early yearsOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

156 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Sale comparisons use the 11 of its 18 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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.

StatementThis schoolSaleEngland
My child is happy at this school
9th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sale.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 97% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
9th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sale.
Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 97% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
10th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sale.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 94% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 47 parents whose child had been bullied
9th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sale.
Higher than 17% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
40% 61% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 113 parents who had raised a concern
9th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sale.
Higher than 42% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81% 89% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND
5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sale.
Higher than 43% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 83% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
10th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sale.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89%said yes 94% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 36%). 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. Sale figures pool parents at the Sale 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.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

60 pupils in this year group.

85% — 13 points above the Trafford average, and 23 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolTraffordEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 85% 72% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 25% 15% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 90% 84% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 90% 79% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 92% 82% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 110 108 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 111 108 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 83%This school 2023/24: 79%This school 2024/25: 85% This school England 62% 2022/23 83% 2023/24 79% 2024/25 85%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 Trafford. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered44
Families who put it first42
Of those, offered a place42 (100%)
Families who listed it at all121

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

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 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Trafford

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolTraffordEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
15th highest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.8% 18.2%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
16th highest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.4% 3.1%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
14th highest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
8.6% 12.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 5th highest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
34.0% 27.4%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
8th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.3% 4.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Lower than 92% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.6% 9.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
14th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.7 0.8 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
15th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Lower than 49% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.7% 0.5% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 96% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
26.7 21.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 98% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
16.1 11.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
7th highest of 18 state primary schools in Sale.
Higher than 58% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
14.7% 10.2%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary 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.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 7 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 85% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 23 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?

89% of the 156 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 42 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 44 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 42 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.