Academy converter · Lancashire

St Joseph's Catholic primary School, a Voluntary Academy

3–11Ages
119Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
150299URN

West Close Road, Barnoldswick, BB18 5EN · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.1per place

0.5 above Lancashire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Lancashire

34 applications for 11 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

60%met the expected standard

Lancashire 63% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 22 February 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.1applications per place, Reception

0.5 above Lancashire median (2.6) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

34 applications · 11 places offered · 9 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.6
2025 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.7
2024 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
2023 2.2; Lancashire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2022 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.5; as the previous school
2021 2.9; Lancashire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2020 2.8; Lancashire median median 2.7; as the previous school
2019 3.9; Lancashire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2018 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.7; as the previous school
2017 2.7; Lancashire median median 2.5; as the previous school
2016 3.0; Lancashire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2015 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.5; as the previous school
2014 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.4; as the previous school

This school
Lancashire median

Dashed bars: as St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Barnoldswick (URN 119685), the previous school.

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	11	34	3.1	9	0.82
Sep 2025	18	41	2.3	15	0.83
Sep 2024	14	48	3.4	13	0.93
Sep 2023 *	17	38	2.2	13	0.76
Sep 2022 *	20	45	2.3	18	0.90
Sep 2021 *	20	57	2.9	25	1.25
Sep 2020 *	20	56	2.8	20	1.00
Sep 2019 *	13	51	3.9	12	0.92
Sep 2018 *	20	45	2.3	20	1.00
Sep 2017 *	18	48	2.7	14	0.78
Sep 2016 *	18	54	3.0	14	0.78
Sep 2015 *	20	63	3.2	21	1.05
Sep 2014 *	20	69	3.5	32	1.60

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 67% · Writing 67% · Maths 87% → all three 60% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard60%246th of 444 in Lancashire

Lancashire 63% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard67%

Lancashire 77% England 78%

Higher standard27%

Lancashire 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard67%

Lancashire 74% England 75%

Greater depth7%

Lancashire 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard87%

Lancashire 76% England 77%

Higher standard20%

Lancashire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Lancashire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	60%	7%	105	106
2023/24	62%	19%	104	104
2022/23	57%	21%	104	103

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Joseph's Catholic primary School, a Voluntary AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

3.1applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
Gisburn Road Community Primary School
0.3 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.0applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Coates Lane Primary School
0.9 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.0applications per place 37%met the SATs standard
Barnoldswick Church of England Controlled Primary School
1.0 km · Lancashire

Good2022

1.5applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Salterforth Primary School
2.1 km · Lancashire

Good2023

3.4applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Thornton in Craven Community Primary School
3.3 km · North Yorkshire

Remains Good2023

2.4applications per place 85%met the SATs standard
Earby Springfield Primary School
3.5 km · Lancashire

Requires improvement2024

1.9applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Kelbrook Primary School
3.7 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2022

3.6applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Gisburn Primary School
5.2 km · Lancashire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 94%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 150299 · 888/3805
Trust: The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 140 pupils · 119 on roll
Free school meals: 11.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 March 2024
Replaced: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Barnoldswick (URN 119685)
Address: West Close Road, Barnoldswick, BB18 5EN
Local authority: Lancashire · Pendle

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources