St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Otley
Otley, LS21 3AP · Leeds · primary school
Check the area around this school
94th of 211 primary schools in Leeds we can score, 221 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 4,209 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.5/10 among them, against 5.7/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 67.0 · 57 | 40% | 2.28 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 8.0 · 57 | 25% | 1.43 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Otley overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 67.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 8.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.5 out of 10 among them, against 5.7 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join a table tennis club, attend Forest School trips, and use the after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 187 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to progress from the expected standard to the higher standard? What specific activities are included in the Forest School trips? How does the after-school club structure its daily sessions?
What Ofsted said about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Otley
Overview
This inspection found that St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is “greatly valued by parents and carers” who appreciate the “love and care” provided. The school maintains a “strong Catholic ethos” that drives ambition for every pupil to be happy and achieve well, fostering a sense of belonging within the ‘St Joseph’s family’.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “broad and well designed to enthuse and inspire” pupils, with staff using the natural environment and visitors to “bring learning to life”.
- Pupils “behave well in lessons and are polite and respectful”, with bullying being “very rare” and dealt with swiftly.
- Mathematics teaching is strong, with staff confident in subject knowledge and using “repetition and retrieval practise” to help pupils remember more.
- Reading is promoted enthusiastically through initiatives like “reading breakfasts” and “bedtime stories”, ensuring children gain “confidence and fluency”.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included, with “carefully planned adaptations” ensuring they learn the same curriculum as their peers.
Areas to improve
- Assessment systems in recently developed foundation subjects are not established, meaning “gaps in pupils’ learning are not identified consistently”.
- The school has not identified specific vocabulary in some foundation subjects, so pupils “do not have the vocabulary to articulate their knowledge clearly”.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective”.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 80% |
| 2023/24 | 62% |
| 2024/25 | 67% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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