St Joseph's Catholic High School

St Joseph's Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic secondary school in Slough and part of the St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust. It has experienced significant leadership change since its last inspection, with a new headteacher and new trust leadership. Safeguarding standards are met. Inspectors found a nurturing, inclusive and calm school community where pupils feel safe, known and cared for, and where attendance and behaviour are particular strengths. Pupils attend above national averages, including disadvantaged pupils, and they are polite, respectful and attentive. Pupils achieve well at GCSE overall, with Progress 8 above national and strong outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, reading support is effective, and inclusion and pastoral care are central to the school's work. Leaders, governors and trustees have a clear vision and provide appropriate challenge and support, while staff feel valued. Some areas still need improvement. Sixth-form A-level achievement is below national averages, though vocational outcomes and progression are stronger. Teaching is generally effective, but teachers do not consistently check understanding or adapt work precisely enough for pupils with SEND, and writing accuracy is not consistently developed across subjects. Leaders could also sharpen evaluation of disadvantaged funding and enrichment participation, and better develop sixth-form students' confidence and independence. Overall, the school is performing at the expected standard in most areas, with strong attendance and behaviour, and has clear priorities for further improvement.

Strengths

• Attendance is above national averages, including for disadvantaged pupils, and punctuality is consistently good.
• Pupils behave exceptionally well and are polite, courteous, respectful and attentive in lessons.
• Bullying and discrimination are rare and dealt with quickly and effectively.
• Leaders have created a calm, nurturing and inclusive school community where pupils feel safe and known.
• The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with well-sequenced knowledge and effective reading support.
• Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, achieve well in GCSE examinations and make strong progress.
• Inclusion is at the heart of the school, with strong pastoral care and close work with families.
• Leaders, governors and trustees share a clear vision and provide robust challenge and support.
• Personal development and enrichment provision is extensive, including sports, electives, charity work and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
• Sixth-form vocational outcomes and progression to education, employment or training are positive.

Areas for Improvement

• Sixth-form A-level achievement is below the national average.
• Teachers do not consistently check pupils' understanding or address misconceptions, limiting the depth of pupils' knowledge.
• Adaptations for pupils with SEND are not consistently precise or in place across the curriculum.
• Expectations for writing accuracy are not sharp or consistent enough across subjects.
• Leaders' evaluation of the impact of disadvantaged pupil funding, including alternative provision, is not rigorous enough.
• Tracking of enrichment participation and targeting for some pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, could be stronger.
• Sixth-form students are not always encouraged enough to develop confidence and independence through deeper discussion.
• Sixth-form students could be better prepared for their next steps through both progress and the personal development programme.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

• Eden Girls' School, Slough
• Herschel Grammar School
• St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School
• Upton Court Grammar School

St Joseph's Catholic High School is part of St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust, which runs 18 schools. The nearest others:

• St Ethelbert's Catholic Primary School Slough
• St Anthony's Catholic Primary School Slough
• Holy Family Catholic Primary School Slough
• St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Gerrards Cross
• St Peter's Catholic Primary School Marlow
• St Michael's Catholic School High Wycombe
• Our Lady's Catholic Primary School Amersham
• St Edward's Catholic Junior School Aylesbury
• St Joseph's Catholic Infant School Aylesbury
• St Louis Catholic Primary School Aylesbury

What is St Joseph's Catholic High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Joseph's Catholic High School is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was St Joseph's Catholic High School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Joseph's Catholic High School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does St Joseph's Catholic High School have?

St Joseph's Catholic High School has 988 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Joseph's Catholic High School cover?

St Joseph's Catholic High School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are St Joseph's Catholic High School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 54.0, and 56% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is St Joseph's Catholic High School?

St Joseph's Catholic High School is at Shaggy Calf Lane, Slough, Berkshire, SL2 5HW.