Schools by area › Wakefield › St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Newgate, Pontefract WF8 4AA · stjosephspontefract.co.uk · 01977 701493
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Apr 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 77%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Wakefield 63%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 222
- 12 over 210 places · 106%
- Local authority
- Wakefield
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 10.7%
- First language not English
- 18.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 21 families put the school first and 21 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 30 | 30 | 1 | 93% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 29 | 29 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 29 | 39 | 1.3▲ | 72% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 30 | 40 | 1.3▲ | 75% |
Results
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 10% the higher standard. Across Wakefield it was 63%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲77% | 62% | ||
| ●10% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●106 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 17 April 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 17 Apr 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Mar 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2012Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding May 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
60% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (78 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 60%
- Replies
- 78
- 33% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 40% who had a child bullied
based on 13 parents (17%) with SEND