SchoolScoresSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Part of HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Woodchurch Road, Oxton, Prenton, CH43 5UT
0151 652 6781 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 November 2022.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
50 pupils in this year group.
68% — 12 points above the Wirral average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 68% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 86% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 78% | 68% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 104 | 105 |
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 Wirral. 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 offered | 25 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 74 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.2 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.0% | 32.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.3% | 18.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.6% | 7.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Lower than 33% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.9% | 14.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Lower than 63% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.38% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Higher than 41% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.9 | 19.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Higher than 91% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.9 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 7 state primary schools in Prenton. Higher than 18% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 15.6%* | 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
- Devonshire Park Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodchurch Road Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oxton St Saviour's CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), some aspects weaker 2024 · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Birkenhead Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mersey Park Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bedford Drive Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Prenton Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Well Lane Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion)
- Woodlands Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 November 2022.
How did St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead as their first choice for 25 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 23 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 146088.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.