School Context

Saint Joseph’s RC Junior, Infant and Nursery School is a one-form entry school in the old, industrial mill town of Shaw in Oldham.  It is located near the centre of the small town and serves the parish of Saint Joseph’s, from which most of our pupils are admitted. 

As of August 2023, it consists of 233 pupils between ages 3-11, 91.1% of whom are Roman Catholic.  85.4% of the school population are white British (65.5% national) with 3.4% other white background, 3% White and Black Caribbean, 2.6% Chinese, 2.1% Black African, 0.9% other Asian background, 0.9% Indian, 0.9% White and Black African, 0.4% White Irish and 0.4% White and Asian make up the minority groups.  

The school is a popular choice of school in Oldham and is over-subscribed each year.  There is low mobility of pupils at Saint Joseph’s.  The overwhelming majority of pupils who start Reception class stay with us until Year 6 (97.1%); most pupils who attend our Nursery move into our Reception class.  

The proportion of Pupil Premium Grant Ever 6 funded pupils is lower than the national average at 9.6% (21 children/9% in receipt of FSM – 23.5% FSM national average; 28.7% Oldham average). 

At the start of the 2023-24 school year, 31 children were on the SEND register with 2 children in receipt of a statement of SEND.  On entry to the school, children are below national expectations.  These results are moderated by the Catholic cluster of schools.  

In total, there are 32 staff in Saint Joseph’s of which 66% are Catholic. Out of the 8 teachers, 8 are Catholic; 5 have the CCRS including the Head Teacher and 1 more working towards the certificate – the other 2 are ECTs.  All members of support staff are active members in their own church community.  

Saint Joseph’s School is a proud member of the Catholic Federation of Oldham Schools (CFOS).