St Joseph's Primary School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Newry, Mourne and Down
St Joseph's Primary School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 9 October 2025, 9 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 31 Downpatrick Road, Strangford Lower, Strangford, BT30 7LZ
How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down
That puts St Joseph's Primary School among the 1,411 places in Newry, Mourne and Down holding top marks, 89% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,411 | 89% | ← St Joseph's Primary School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 124 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 143 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At St Joseph's Primary School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to St Joseph's Primary School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playlinks School/college/university | 134 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| Hole in the Wall Pub/bar/nightclub | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| VIVO Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| The Artisan Cookhouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 164 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| The Cake Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 176 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| The Lobster Pot Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 243 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2026 |
| Kevin OG Retailers - other | 262 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 July 2023 |
| Thomas Duffy & Sons Mace Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 268 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
Questions about St Joseph's Primary School
What is St Joseph's Primary School's food hygiene rating?
St Joseph's Primary School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 9 October 2025.
Is St Joseph's Primary School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was St Joseph's Primary School last inspected?
St Joseph's Primary School was last inspected on 9 October 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newry, Mourne and Down Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at St Joseph's Primary School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does St Joseph's Primary School compare to other places in Newry, Mourne and Down?
89% of the 1,580 rated food businesses in Newry, Mourne and Down hold the top rating of 5, and St Joseph's Primary School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects St Joseph's Primary School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch St Joseph's Primary School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
St Joseph's Primary School is one of 1,034 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
Newry, Mourne and Down inspects and rates 1,723 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newry, Mourne and Down →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newrymournedown.org
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →