St Joseph's Catholic College
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St Joseph's Catholic College is a converter academy in Swindon for boys and girls aged 11 to 16. It has 1,425 pupils, 75 more than it has places for. About 21 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 42 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 37% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.
Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR01793 714200stjosephscollege.netJerry Giles principalAll details
What Ofsted found
A shorter visit on 8 November 2023 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.
Results
GCSE results, summer 2025
278 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.
All GCSE measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | Swindon | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of Year 11 | 278 | 275 | 272 | 271 | 234 | 221 | – | – |
| Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8 | 38.0 | 49.1 | 47.0 | 50.6 | 45.3 | 44.8 | 44.6 | 46.8 |
| Progress from age 11Progress 8 | – | +0.37 | -0.06 | -0.01 | -0.06 | +0.04 | – | – |
| Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths | 28% | 50% | 43% | 51% | 35% | 38% | 44% | 46% |
| Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths | 49% | 68% | 66% | 72% | 56% | 57% | 64% | 66% |
| Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score | 3.22 | 4.18 | 3.90 | 4.24 | 3.99 | 3.88 | 3.93 | 4.15 |
| Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry | 8% | 15% | 10% | 17% | 29% | 32% | 32% | 41% |
| Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged | 30.6 | 42.6 | 42.6 | 42.8 | 37.7 | 34.9 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged | 40.5 | 50.1 | 48.0 | 52.0 | 46.9 | 46.5 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers | – | 33.8 | 29.7 | 34.2 | 24.7 | 30.6 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers | – | 67.4 | 63.9 | 65.1 | 58.9 | 60.3 | – | – |
Subjects
Results came out for 19 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.
Subjects that did worse than the England average: Food Preparation & Nutrition (6% here, 52% across England), Drama (31% here, 60% across England), Computer Science (28% here, 56% across England), Social Studies (26% here, 54% across England).
The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.
Every subject against England, 2025
| Subject | Entries | Grades 9 to 7 | Grades 9 to 5 | Grades 9 to 4 | England 9 to 5 | Rank in England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 261 | 10% | 38% | 59% | 53% | 2,605 of 3,211 |
| English Language | 261 | 8% | 36% | 50% | 54% | 2,764 of 3,210 |
| English Literature | 260 | 10% | 42% | 59% | 58% | 2,596 of 3,202 |
| Religious Studies | 255 | 17% | 40% | 51% | 60% | 1,569 of 1,825 |
| Combined Science | 196 | 3% | 27% | 47% | 36% | 2,155 of 3,084 |
| Geography | 164 | 10% | 34% | 49% | 51% | 2,466 of 3,116 |
| Business | 143 | 4% | 27% | 44% | 51% | 1,548 of 1,806 |
| Social Studies | 65 | 11% | 26% | 43% | 54% | 958 of 1,043 |
| History | 65 | 6% | 32% | 37% | 52% | 2,680 of 3,126 |
| Biology | 63 | 24% | 86% | 95% | 82% | 1,378 of 2,570 |
| Chemistry | 61 | 41% | 87% | 97% | 81% | 1,269 of 2,537 |
| Physics | 61 | 25% | 82% | 95% | 82% | 1,531 of 2,546 |
| Art and Design | 60 | 18% | 47% | 68% | 58% | 1,981 of 2,818 |
| Computer Science | 54 | 6% | 28% | 33% | 56% | 1,637 of 1,861 |
| Other Modern Languages | 26 | 27% | 46% | 62% | 49% | 343 of 454 |
| French | 20 | 15% | 50% | 60% | 60% | 1,390 of 1,974 |
| Food Preparation & Nutrition | 18 | 0% | 6% | 33% | 52% | – |
| Design & Technology | 18 | 11% | 39% | 61% | 50% | – |
| Drama | 16 | 0% | 31% | 50% | 60% | – |
In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.
A level and sixth-form results, 2018
42 students finished sixth-form courses.
All sixth-form measures, year by year
| Measure | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 42 | 130 | 128 |
| Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry | 31.55 | 27.32 | 24.51 |
| Average A level grade | C | C- | D+ |
| Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS | 33.71 | 31.46 | 27.08 |
| AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects | 20% | 13% | 13% |
| A level progressA level value added | -0.05 | -0.39 | -0.53 |
| Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed | 77% | 99% | – |
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 3 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At GCSE, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Open to all. There is no entrance test. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
The school is full, with 89 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have grown by 4% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Swindon council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 60 pupils, for moderate learning difficulties, other needs, speech, language and communication, severe learning difficulties.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Swindon with moderate learning difficulties provision.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (100), emotional and mental health (46), Specific learning difficulty (35), language and communications needs (31), Moderate learning difficulty (24), Autistic spectrum disorder (20).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 1,425 | 1,433 | 1,416 | 1,409 | 1,359 | 1,338 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 21% | 20% | 18% | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 22% | 22% | 28% | 29% | 32% | 37% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 10% | 12% | 14% | 14% | 13% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 6% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 92.0% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 8.0% | 8.2% | 8.4% | 7.9% | 5.5% | 4.6% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.3% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 4.4% | 3.3% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 2.3% | 1.1% | 1.3% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 21.3% | 24.0% | 27.3% | 25.9% | 15.5% | 11.5% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 25.4 | 24.4 | 20.2 | 7.4 | 6.6 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | – | – |
What pupils do next
After GCSEs
Where the 272 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 98%, compared with 98% for everyone else.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 98% | 95% | 96% | 96% |
| Education | 95% | 92% | 90% | 94% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 2% | 4% | – |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Not in education, work or training | 2% | 4% | 2% | 4% |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn Manor Academy | Academy | 0.7 miles | 969 | Good 2023 | 35 | Compare |
| UTC Swindon | University technical college | 1.3 miles | 182 | Requires improvement 2024 | 2 | Compare |
| The Dorcan Academy | Academy | 1.5 miles | 881 | Good 2022 | 33 | Compare |
| The Commonweal School | Academy | 1.5 miles | 1,442 | Good 2023 | 43 | Compare |
| Swindon Academy | Academy | 1.5 miles | 1,820 | Report card 2026 | 75 | Compare |
| Kingsdown School | Academy | 1.9 miles | 1,108 | Good 2020 | 29 | Compare |
| Nova Hreod Academy | Academy | 2.2 miles | 1,044 | Good 2022 | 42 | Compare |
| The Deanery CofE Academy | Free school | 2.4 miles | 670 | Inadequate 2023 | 13 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares St Joseph's Catholic College with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 49 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St Joseph's Catholic College, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lydiard Park Academy | Academy | 3.6 miles | 1,302 | Good 2023 | 61 | Compare |
| Royal Wootton Bassett Academy | Academy | 6.1 miles | 1,714 | No overall grade 2024 | 69 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 42 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 42% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 32 to 51. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 20% | below | -0.09 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 278 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.02 | Ofsted grade, 2.8 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | above | +0.13 | DfE progress measure; 278 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.15 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | +0.02 | 2024/25; 1,462 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well below | -0.12 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 278 pupils |
| What pupils do next | 5% | well above | +0.06 | 272 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is St Joseph's Catholic College a good school?
It is about average. St Joseph's Catholic College scores 42 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 37% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 32 to 51, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
What is St Joseph's Catholic College's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated St Joseph's Catholic College good at its last full inspection on 8 November 2023.
How good are St Joseph's Catholic College's GCSE results?
In summer 2025, 28% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 38.0, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.
How many pupils does St Joseph's Catholic College have?
1,425 pupils aged 11 to 16 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,350 places, so it is 106% full.
Is St Joseph's Catholic College oversubscribed?
Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 89 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic College?
Pupils were in school 92.0% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 21% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic College?
The average class had 24.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 12% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does St Joseph's Catholic College have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has sen unit for moderate learning difficulties, other needs, speech, language and communication, severe learning difficulties. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Does St Joseph's Catholic College have a sixth form?
No. Pupils leave after Year 11 for a sixth form elsewhere, a college or an apprenticeship; 98% of 2022/23 leavers were still in education, work or training six months on.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR
- Telephone
- 01793 714200
- Website
- www.stjosephscollege.net
- Principal
- Jerry Giles
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Secondary school, ages 11-16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic, Diocese of Clifton
- Single-academy trust
- St Joseph's Catholic College (1 schools)
- Local authority
- Swindon
- Ward
- Central
- Constituency
- Swindon South
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 August 2011 (academy converter)
- URN
- 136980 · LAESTAB 8665409 · UKPRN 10034811
- Formerly
- St Joseph's Catholic College
Recent changes
- New KS4 results for 2024/25
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- GCSE results: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25 final.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.