What this means: The overall absence rate measures the percentage of possible sessions (half-days) missed by pupils across the academic year, including both authorised and unauthorised absences.

This absence rate is below the national average, which usually indicates strong attendance culture, effective monitoring, and good engagement with families.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 839th out of 20,611 schools nationally

What this means: The suspension rate shows the percentage of pupils who received at least one fixed-period suspension during the academic year. A single pupil suspended multiple times counts once.

This suspension rate is below average, which usually reflects either a strong pastoral support system or a school community with fewer behavioural challenges.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 1st out of 20,625 schools nationally

What this means: The permanent exclusion rate shows the percentage of pupils permanently excluded from the school during the academic year. This is the most serious sanction a headteacher can apply.

Permanent exclusion is rare across most schools. Many schools report zero permanent exclusions in any given year.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 1st out of 20,625 schools nationally

What this means: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers employed at the school. Part-time teachers are counted proportionally (e.g. a teacher working 3 days counts as 0.6 FTE).

Teacher numbers typically reflect the size and funding of the school. A school with 4 FTE teachers is relatively small. Changes over time may indicate growth, budget pressures, or restructuring.

What this means: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching assistants employed at the school, including higher-level teaching assistants (HLTAs).

Teaching assistant numbers vary widely between schools. The number of TAs usually depends on the school's SEN population, funding, and teaching model.

What this means: The pupil-to-teacher ratio (PTR) divides the total number of pupils by the number of FTE teachers. It indicates how many pupils each teacher is responsible for on average, though actual class sizes may differ.

This pupil-to-teacher ratio is within the normal range for most schools. The national average typically sits between 18–22 for primaries.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 12,637th out of 21,095 schools nationally

What this means: Teacher turnover rate shows the percentage of teachers who left the school during the academic year. This includes retirements, resignations, and transfers.

A turnover rate above 20% is typically considered high and may suggest recruitment challenges, workload pressures, or leadership changes.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 20,399th out of 20,457 schools nationally

What this means: The teacher sickness absence rate shows the percentage of possible teaching days lost to sickness absence across all teachers during the academic year.

A teacher absence rate above 5% is higher than the national average and may indicate workforce wellbeing challenges or an above-average level of long-term sickness.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 2,017th out of 18,930 schools nationally

What this means: The average number of days lost to sickness absence per teacher during the academic year. This includes both short-term and long-term absences.

This level of teacher absence days is within or below the typical range for most schools.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 2,225th out of 18,919 schools nationally

What this means: The percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM). FSM eligibility is widely used as a proxy indicator for socio-economic disadvantage.

This FSM rate is broadly around the national average. Schools with moderate FSM rates serve communities with mixed levels of deprivation.

What this means: The percentage of pupils identified as having Special Educational Needs (SEN), including both SEN Support and those with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.

An SEN rate above 20% is higher than the national average and may indicate strong SEN identification practices or a school that attracts families seeking good SEN provision.

📊 📊 St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley is ranked 4,261st out of 22,081 schools nationally

What this means: The percentage of pupils receiving SEN Support — the first tier of SEN provision, where additional help is provided within the school without an EHC plan.

This level of SEN Support is above the national average. The proportion often reflects how the school identifies and categorises additional needs.

What this means: The percentage of pupils with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan — the highest level of SEN support, involving a legally binding document specifying the provision required.

This EHC rate is within the normal range. Many mainstream schools have 1–3% of pupils with EHC plans.

What this means: The total number of school places available (capacity). This is the physical capacity based on the school's buildings and grounds.

A capacity of 90 places suggests a smaller school.

What this means: The total number of pupils on roll — the actual number of pupils attending the school.

The school currently has 65 pupils on roll. This figure can change from year to year based on admissions, in-year transfers, and demographic trends in the local area.