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St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract is an academy converter primary school in Pontefract, Wakefield , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 227 pupils, and a capacity of 210 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

3-11

Age range

227

Pupils

210

Capacity

108%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2024

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract?

The catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract is the geographic zone Wakefield uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. Wakefield publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract is managed by Wakefield and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

Currently oversubscribed: 227 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 210 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Wakefield publishes the 2027 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Wakefield before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Wakefield catchment area documents →

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract: at or above its 210 place limit

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract has a published admission number of 210 places. 227 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 108%. The school is at or above its published limit of 210 places. Wakefield allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 9.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Pontefract.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Wakefield publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Wakefield Council school admissions (official) →

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract: School Information

Full address
Newgate, Pontefract, WF8 4AA
Local authority
Wakefield
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
3-11 years
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Free school meals
9.3% of pupils
DfE URN
138947

Other Primary Schools in Pontefract

If St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Pontefract are the next closest alternatives.

Other Roman Catholic Schools in Wakefield

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract shares its religious character with these Roman Catholic schools across Wakefield. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract

What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract?

The catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract is the geographic zone Wakefield uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. Wakefield publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract oversubscribed?

Yes, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract currently has 227 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 210 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract?

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Wakefield before each admissions cycle.

What age range does St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract cover?

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract is a primary school in Pontefract, Wakefield, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract?

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract was rated Good by Ofsted in 2024. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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