St Joseph's RC Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class

Market Street, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 0ES

01457 832360 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 May 2014; confirmed 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths58%England 62% · 2024/25
14th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 32% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils147Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 196 in 2019, 186 in 2021, 184 in 2022, 183 in 2023, 185 in 2024, 167 in 2025, 147 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.010 for 10 places, September 2026
Joint 8th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 May 2014.

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 educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 27 September 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

58 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Ashton-under-Lyne comparisons use the 4 of its 20 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 16 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 schoolAshton-under-LyneEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 96% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 96% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 24% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 91% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 57% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 59% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 45 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 23% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
73% 81% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 14% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
76%said yes 88% 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. Ashton-under-Lyne figures pool parents at the Ashton-under-Lyne 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

31 pupils in this year group.

58% — 2 points below the Tameside average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolTamesideEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 58% 60% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 5% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 77% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 65% 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 77% 74% 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. 105 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 65%This school 2023/24: 67%This school 2024/25: 58% This school England 62% 2022/23 65% 2023/24 67% 2024/25 58%

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 Tameside. 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 offered10
Families who put it first10
Of those, offered a place10 (100%)
Families who listed it at all15

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Tameside

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolTamesideEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
17th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
24.5% 37.9%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.8% 4.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
18th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
8.4% 16.8%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
19th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.4% 18.1%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Lower than 92% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.5% 4.8%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
8th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Lower than 71% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
8.3% 12.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 2.1 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.06% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 16th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 15% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
16.7 20.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
11th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 33% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
9.8 10.6 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
9th highest of 20 state primary schools in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Higher than 41% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
10.3% 12.1%* 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is St Joseph's RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?

St Joseph's RC Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 May 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 27 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did St Joseph's RC Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend St Joseph's RC Primary School?

76% of the 58 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Joseph's RC Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Joseph's RC Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 10 families put St Joseph's RC Primary School as their first choice for 10 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 10 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.