SchoolScoresSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Moreton Road, Upton, Wirral, CH49 6LL
0151 677 3970 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 April 2019.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Wirral comparisons use the 25 of its 58 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 33 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 | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 14th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wirral. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 13th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wirral. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 10th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wirral. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 92% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern 18th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wirral. Higher than 42% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 83% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 19th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wirral. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Wirral figures pool parents at the Wirral 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
44 pupils in this year group.
55% — about the same as the Wirral average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 55% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 9% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 59% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 70% | 68% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 27 |
| Of those, offered a place | 27 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 57 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 25th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.6% | 32.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 43rd highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.2% | 18.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 11th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.8% | 7.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 29th lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 22nd lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 68% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.8% | 14.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 26th lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 63% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 26th lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 60% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 46th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 21% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.7 | 19.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 49th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 14% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.4 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 29th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 59% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 15.2% | 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
- Overchurch Infant School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected
- Overchurch Junior School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2021, before conversion) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brookdale Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Manor Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moreton Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chapelhill Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2020, before conversion) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Paul's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 5 needs attention · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fender Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- Co-op Academy Hillside 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 48% 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 Upton's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 April 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 55% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton?
88% of the 32 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 Upton to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 27 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 27 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 105068.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.