SchoolScoresSt Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Part of BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Front Street, Stanley, DH9 0NP
01207 232624 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 February 2012. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 February 2024: 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
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Stanley comparisons use the 11 of its 17 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 6 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 | Stanley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 4th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stanley. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 89% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 5th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stanley. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 7th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stanley. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 88% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 10 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stanley. Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 53% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stanley. Higher than 23% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 75% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stanley. Higher than 17% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78%said yes | 83% | 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. Stanley figures pool parents at the Stanley 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
29 pupils in this year group.
72% — 10 points above the County Durham average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 86% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 County Durham. 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 | 14 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 14 |
| Of those, offered a place | 14 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 34 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 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 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 | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 17th highest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.7% | 35.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 13th highest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.3% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 17th highest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.0% | 18.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 15th highest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 5.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Lower than 81% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Lower than 63% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.7% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 4th highest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Higher than 40% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.8 | 20.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 17 state primary schools in Stanley. Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 13th highest of 14 state primary schools in Stanley. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 13.1%* | 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
- East Stanley School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- South Stanley Infant and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2025
- South Stanley Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shield Row Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stanley Burnside Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 22% met expected standard (KS2)
- Tanfield Lea Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bloemfontein Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Greenland Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), improved significantly 2025 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beamish Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2021 · 29% 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, Stanley's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 February 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley?
78% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 14 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley as their first choice for 14 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 14 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 148412.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- 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.