Schools by area › Cumberland › St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington
St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Harrington Road, Workington CA14 3EE · sjchs.uk · 01900 873290
On the mapSearch near CA14 3EE
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jun 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 37.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Cumberland 42.3, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 539
- 88% of 615 places
- Local authority
- Cumberland
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 42.9%
- First language not English
- 12.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 124 families put the school first and 118 places were offered; 95% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 118 | 124 | 1.1▲ | 95% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 104 | 92 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 119 | 70 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 89 | 81 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 92 | 92 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 37.4, and 31.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Cumberland it was 42.3, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼37.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼31.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼48.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼7.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.08 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 112401)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 17.6 | −4.4 |
| Further education | 64.7 | +7.7 |
| Other education | 1 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 7.8 | +5.8 |
| Employment | 2.9 | −1.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2.9 | −6.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.9 | −3.1 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington on 30 June 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 30 Jun 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Nov 2023
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 112401), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Apr 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 112401)
Nov 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 112401)
What parents said
87% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (31 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 87%
- Replies
- 31
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 81% who raised concerns
based on the 29% who had a child bullied