The inspection evaluates Catholic Life and Mission, Religious Education, and Collective Worship, with the school judged outstanding overall across all three areas.

Headteacher Ann Cassidy-Jones said the results reflected a "thriving" school community. "I am absolutely delighted with the outcome," she said. "The inspection was a wonderful opportunity to share our successes and have our self-evaluation externally validated."

Inspectors praised the school's positive and caring culture, noting that "relationships are outstanding in this harmonious school, where staff and pupils know they are loved." The report highlighted that pupils "speak confidently about the love and care shown by their teachers, which fosters a deep sense of belonging."

Behaviour at the school was described as "exemplary", with pupils showing "high levels of engagement and concentration, maximising learning opportunities."

The inspectors also commended the school's commitment to ongoing development, noting that "self-evaluation is highly effective, leading to a culture of continuous improvement."

St Joseph's operates as part of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, a network of nine Catholic schools within the Diocese of Westminster.

"Being part of the Trust means we can share best practice with colleagues across other schools, access joint training opportunities, and benefit from specialist support," said Miss Cassidy-Jones. "It gives us access to resources and expertise that we simply wouldn't have as a standalone school."

The inspectors specifically highlighted the quality of leadership at St Joseph’s; an area strengthened through the school's participation in the Trust's collaborative quality assurance and peer review processes.

Chair of Governors Vedran Biondic said “The outcome of our recent inspection is a testament to the exceptional staff and leadership team who support our school with such dedication. I am delighted that the inspection has recognised the high-quality catholic education our school provides where the support and commitment we receive from the Trust team, and our staff towards every child at St Joseph’s clearly makes an impact. The Governing Body would like to thank them all for their hard work and ongoing support.”

Photo caption: St Joseph’s (Bishop’s Stortford) was judged outstanding overall. Headteacher Miss Ann Cassidy-Jones (left) said the inspection was a wonderful opportunity to share the school’s successes.

About St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust (https://www.stfrancistrust.net)

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust (St Francis Trust) is a multi-academy trust established in 2021. It currently serves nine Catholic schools – eight primary schools and one secondary school and which will welcome six more Enfield schools over the next 18 months.

The Trust’s mission is to provide an outstanding Catholic education for all the children in our schools, helping them to grow in faith and reach their full potential. Guided by the values of St Francis, the Trust promotes academic excellence, spiritual development, and service to others.