Junior schools start at Year 3, so children join here from an infant school.
Infant school
St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley
This school
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
Partner infant school
St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley
Reception to Year 2 · 580 m away from St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
View schoolEvery child joining in Year 3 needs a place applied for through the council where they live, by 15 January in Year 2. That includes children at St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley.
Official inspection reports and grades
Inspected 24 June 2025
Compared with the local authority and England
The share of pupils reaching the standard expected for their age, and the share going beyond it.
| Measure | School | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing & maths — expected | 76% | 64% | 63% |
| Reading, writing & maths — higher | 18% | 7% | 8% |
| Grammar, punctuation & spelling — expected | 94% | 75% | 73% |
| Grammar, punctuation & spelling — higher | 41% | 31% | 30% |
A score of 100 is the expected standard; 110 or more is a higher standard.
| Subject | School | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Maths | 108 | 105 | 105 |
| Grammar, punctuation & spelling | 109 | 106 | 105 |
School workforce census, 2025/26.
Ofsted’s survey of parents at this school
81%
of parents would recommend this school to another parent
26 responses up to 1 September 2025 · 27% response rate
My child is happy at this school.
88% agreeMy child feels safe at this school.
92% agreeThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.
69% agreeMy child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.
70% agreeThe school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.
92% agreeOfsted last inspected St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley on 24 June 2025 and did not give an overall grade, as single-word grades ended in September 2024.
Apply through the council where you live by 15 January for a Year 3 place starting that September. Every child joining in Year 3 needs a place applied for through the council where they live, by 15 January in Year 2. That includes children at St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley. You can usually list between 3 and 6 schools in order of preference, and offers are sent on 16 April, or the next working day. As a Roman Catholic school it may also ask for a supplementary form, and its admissions policy says whether it does.
No. Distance only counts when St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley has more applicants than places. Then its admission criteria, set by its academy trust, decide who is offered a place first. Children in care or adopted from care come first by law. Most schools put brothers and sisters of current pupils next, then distance or a catchment area. As a Roman Catholic school, it can give priority to children on grounds of faith. How far away the last place went changes every year, depending on who applies.
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley had 93 pupils aged 7 to 11 at the latest school census. Its official capacity is 120. It is a mixed school.