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OpenPrimaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 113848

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Christchurch

Voluntary aided school · Christchurch · BH23 3DA

Ages 5–11 · 199 pupils · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

75%

Overall absence

6.8%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2024-07-08

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)75%
Higher standard (RWM)16%
Avg scaled score — reading
109.0
Avg scaled score — maths
106.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
110.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.7%
Unauthorised1.1%
Authorised absence
5.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.5%
Enrolments in measure
188

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

18

Places offered

18

1st-preference offers

18

Total preferences (any rank)
37
Preferred offers (top 3)
18
Applications from outside LA
2
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill91%

199 pupils · 218 places

Pupils on roll
199
Boys / girls
101 / 98
School capacity
218
Capacity fill
199 / 218 (91%)
Free school meals
31.7%
FSM pupils
63
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 5–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Portsmouth (rc)
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mr Peter Doherty

Location

Address
Dorset Road, Somerford
Postcode
BH23 3DA
Town
Christchurch
County
Dorset
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
District
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Constituency
Christchurch
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary aided school (primary), Ages 5–11, in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, 199 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 31.7%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Portsmouth (rc).

Open schools in Christchurch
20
Primary schools in Christchurch
12
Academies among open schools in Christchurch
30% (6)
Open schools in BH23
21
Primary in BH23
12
Open schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole LA
117
Primary in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole LA
66

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ChristchurchNear BH23

  • Somerford Primary School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Community school · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 3AS · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence8.3%
    • FSM46.7%
    • Demand0.92

    0.5 miles away

  • Mudeford Junior School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 3HP · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 7–11

    • KS281%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM20.4%

    0.8 miles away

  • Mudeford Community Infants' School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 3HH · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–7

    • Absence5.0%
    • FSM10.8%
    • Demand1.00

    0.8 miles away

  • Burton Church of England Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 7JY · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS258%
    • Absence6.2%
    • FSM15.9%
    • Demand1.00

    1.4 miles away

  • The Priory Church of England Primary School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 1HX · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS273%
    • Absence5.8%
    • FSM6.1%
    • Demand0.93

    1.6 miles away

  • Twynham Primary School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Free schools · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 2NH · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 4–11

    • KS276%
    • Absence4.2%
    • FSM12.6%
    • Demand1.34

    1.8 miles away

  • Highcliffe St Mark Primary School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Foundation school · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 5AZ · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 3–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence5.5%
    • FSM6.4%
    • Demand0.97

    1.8 miles away

  • Christchurch Infant School

    Academy converter · Primary

    Christchurch · BH23 2AE · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    Ages 5–7

    • FSM8.8%

    1.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Peter Doherty
Telephone
01202485976
Website
www.stjosephs.dorset.sch.uk/

Official links