St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell is a 212-pupil Roman Catholic primary performing strongly across all areas inspected, with safeguarding standards met. Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve very well, and outcomes are well above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics. Attendance is consistently above national average, persistent absence is low, and behaviour is exemplary. The early years provision is a particular strength, with children thriving through high-quality texts and skilful teaching. Inclusion is highly effective: leaders identify needs quickly, adapt teaching precisely, and use additional funding well. Leadership and governance are also strong, with accurate self-evaluation, effective professional development, and a supportive staff culture. The school has recently undergone significant leadership change, with an acting headteacher appointed in autumn 2025 and made permanent in June 2026, alongside a temporary leadership structure. No areas of underperformance were identified. The report's next steps are developmental: leaders should continue responding to changing needs so high standards are maintained, and governors should continue strengthening their monitoring oversight. Overall, this is a highly effective school where pupils feel safe, valued and well prepared for the next stage of education.

Strengths

• Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, achieve very well.
• Foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics are secure.
• Robust ongoing assessment helps pupils catch up quickly when gaps appear.
• Communication and language are a key strength across the curriculum.
• Pupils develop detailed knowledge and make connections across the wider curriculum.
• Attendance is consistently above the national average and persistent absence is low.
• Disadvantaged pupils' attendance has improved notably and is now above the national average.
• Pupils' behaviour is exemplary and playtimes are harmonious.
• The curriculum is ambitious, balanced and carefully adapted to pupils' needs.
• Teaching is robust, with accurate modelling and intentional questioning.
• Early years provision is strong, with children thriving and achieving above-average development.
• Inclusion is highly effective, with swift identification of needs and skilful adaptations.
• Leaders are highly effective, self-evaluating accurately and using evidence well.
• Governors fulfil their statutory duties and provide effective support and challenge.
• Professional learning is prioritised and staff wellbeing is thoughtfully supported.
• Personal development and wellbeing provision is comprehensive.
• Pupils' character development and understanding of British values are notable strengths.
• Pupils are very well prepared for their next stage of education.
• The wider offer includes extensive extra-curricular activities, trips and visitors.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell attended 96.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell had 23.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 12.4% of pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell received £7,047 and spent £6,961 for each of its 210 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £76,000 (£360 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bracknell Forest · Bracknell Forest local authority: places and applications

What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell is Strong standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell last inspected by Ofsted?

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell have?

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell has 210 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell cover?

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell?

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell is at Gipsy Lane, Bracknell Forest, Berkshire, RG12 9AP.