SchoolScoresSt Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Whinfield Way, Highfield, Rowlands Gill, NE39 2JE
01207 545972 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 October 2013.
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 14 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
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Gateshead comparisons use the 37 of its 66 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 29 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 | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 35th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gateshead. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 96% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 35th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gateshead. Higher than 19% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 31st highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gateshead. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 93% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 13 parents who had raised a concern 31st highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gateshead. Higher than 17% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 85% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 31st highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gateshead. Higher than 28% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%said yes | 92% | 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. Gateshead figures pool parents at the Gateshead 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
15 pupils in this year group.
80% — 16 points above the Gateshead average, and 18 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 80% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 93% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 80% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 87% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 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 Gateshead. 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 | 6 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 6 |
| Of those, offered a place | 6 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 22 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 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 | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.8% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Higher than 99% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 34.1% | 16.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 14.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 4.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 10.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Higher than 12% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.2 | 20.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Higher than 24% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.2 | 11.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Rowlands Gill. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 10.4%* | 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
- Highfield Community Primary School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rowlands Gill Community Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- High Spen Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Burnopfield Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Byermoor 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chopwell Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Lane Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Greenside Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parkhead Community Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clover Hill Community Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 93% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 October 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 18 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield?
84% of the 19 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 6 families put St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Highfield as their first choice for 6 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 6 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 108391.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.