Which is the best primary school in County Durham?

By 2024/25 exam results alone, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate ranks first of 185 ranked primary schools in County Durham, with 100% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Results reflect each school's cohort as well as its teaching, so treat the ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict.

How are schools in County Durham ranked?

Primary schools are ranked by the share of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25, from the Department for Education's published results. Ofsted judgements are never part of the ranking, because inspections from different eras cannot fairly be compared, and special and independent schools are not ranked because their published figures do not compare fairly.

How many primary schools are ranked in County Durham?

185 primary schools in County Durham published 2024/25 results and are ranked here. Schools without published results, special schools and independent schools are listed on the area's own page instead.

Primary schools in County Durham, ranked

The 185 primary schools here are ranked by the share of pupils who reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25, from the Department for Education's published results.

Exam results are one part of the picture, and rankings never include Ofsted judgements: inspections from different eras cannot fairly be compared. Special schools and independent schools are not ranked, because their published figures do not compare fairly either. Each school's own page has its inspection history and context.

1
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate
Academy converter

0%

higher standard

100%

expected standard
2
New Seaham Academy
Academy converter

29%

higher standard

94%

expected standard
3
Bullion Lane Primary School
Community school

3%

higher standard

94%

expected standard
4
Thornhill Primary School
Community school

20%

higher standard

93%

expected standard
5
Ingleton CofE Primary School
Academy converter

22%

higher standard

89%

expected standard
6
Cockfield Primary School
Community school

25%

higher standard

88%

expected standard
7
Sacriston Academy
Academy sponsor led

8%

higher standard

88%

expected standard
8
Framwellgate Moor Primary School
Community school

33%

higher standard

87%

expected standard
9
Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy
Academy converter

23%

higher standard

87%

expected standard
10
Evenwood Church of England Primary School
Academy converter

29%

higher standard

86%

expected standard
11
Montalbo Nursery & Primary School
Community school

30%

higher standard

85%

expected standard
12
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall
Academy converter

23%

higher standard

85%

expected standard
13
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

16%

higher standard

85%

expected standard
14
Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

31%

higher standard

84%

expected standard
15
Coxhoe Primary School
Community school

18%

higher standard

84%

expected standard
16
Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

84%

expected standard
17
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Academy sponsor led

0%

higher standard

84%

expected standard
18
West Cornforth Primary School
Community school

17%

higher standard

83%

expected standard
19
Kirk Merrington Primary School
Community school

6%

higher standard

83%

expected standard
20
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle
Academy converter

31%

higher standard

81%

expected standard
21
Red Rose Primary School
Community school

21%

higher standard

81%

expected standard
22
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

81%

expected standard
23
Nettlesworth Primary School
Community school

10%

higher standard

80%

expected standard
24
Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

19%

higher standard

79%

expected standard
25
Finchale Primary School
Community school

19%

higher standard

78%

expected standard
26
Burnopfield Primary School
Community school

12%

higher standard

78%

expected standard
27
St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston
Academy converter

11%

higher standard

78%

expected standard
28
Langley Moor Primary School
Community school

13%

higher standard

77%

expected standard
29
Lumley Junior School
Community school

12%

higher standard

77%

expected standard
30
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

77%

expected standard
31
Westlea Primary School
Community school

9%

higher standard

77%

expected standard
32
St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School
Academy converter

14%

higher standard

76%

expected standard
33
Kelloe Primary School
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

76%

expected standard
34
Wolsingham Primary School
Community school

8%

higher standard

76%

expected standard
35
West Rainton Primary School
Community school

0%

higher standard

76%

expected standard
36
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham
Academy converter

17%

higher standard

75%

expected standard
37
Greenland Community Primary School
Academy converter

11%

higher standard

75%

expected standard
38
Cestria Primary School
Community school

21%

higher standard

74%

expected standard
39
All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester
Academy converter

13%

higher standard

74%

expected standard
40
Toft Hill Primary School
Community school

13%

higher standard

74%

expected standard
41
South Stanley Junior School
Academy converter

11%

higher standard

74%

expected standard
42
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
Academy converter

9%

higher standard

74%

expected standard
43
St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School
Voluntary aided school

5%

higher standard

74%

expected standard
44
Byerley Park Primary School
Community school

17%

higher standard

73%

expected standard
45
Sedgefield Primary School
Community school

17%

higher standard

73%

expected standard
46
St Anne's CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

10%

higher standard

73%

expected standard
47
St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

73%

expected standard
48
Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

9%

higher standard

73%

expected standard
49
New Brancepeth Primary Academy
Academy converter

9%

higher standard

73%

expected standard
50
St Charles' Catholic Primary School, Tudhoe
Academy converter

0%

higher standard

73%

expected standard
51
Collierley Nursery and Primary School
Academy converter

17%

higher standard

72%

expected standard
52
Vane Road Primary School
Academy converter

14%

higher standard

72%

expected standard
53
Tudhoe Colliery Primary School
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

72%

expected standard
54
Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School
Community school

9%

higher standard

72%

expected standard
55
Easington Colliery Primary School
Community school

7%

higher standard

72%

expected standard
56
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley
Academy converter

7%

higher standard

72%

expected standard
57
Frosterley Primary School
Community school

29%

higher standard

71%

expected standard
58
Browney Primary Academy
Academy sponsor led

17%

higher standard

71%

expected standard
59
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

71%

expected standard
60
Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

7%

higher standard

71%

expected standard
61
Middlestone Moor Academy
Academy converter

0%

higher standard

71%

expected standard
62
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton
Voluntary aided school

0%

higher standard

71%

expected standard
63
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon
Academy converter

5%

higher standard

70%

expected standard
64
Rosa Street Primary and Nursery Academy
Academy sponsor led

4%

higher standard

70%

expected standard
65
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
Academy converter

4%

higher standard

70%

expected standard
66
Newker Primary School
Community school

7%

higher standard

69%

expected standard
67
Deaf Hill Primary School
Academy converter

6%

higher standard

69%

expected standard
68
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook
Academy converter

0%

higher standard

69%

expected standard
69
Ropery Walk Primary School
Community school

12%

higher standard

68%

expected standard
70
Wheatley Hill Community Primary School
Community school

2%

higher standard

68%

expected standard
71
St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont
Academy converter

25%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
72
Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool
Academy converter

17%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
73
Ebchester CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

13%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
74
St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Academy converter

10%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
75
Consett Junior School
Community school

7%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
76
Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery
Community school

7%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
77
St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon
Voluntary aided school

7%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
78
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Blackhill
Academy converter

7%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
79
Bloemfontein Primary School
Academy converter

0%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
80
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
Academy converter

0%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
81
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor
Academy converter

0%

higher standard

67%

expected standard
82
Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Voluntary controlled school

5%

higher standard

66%

expected standard
83
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe
Academy converter

3%

higher standard

66%

expected standard
84
Easington CofE Primary School
Academy converter

15%

higher standard

65%

expected standard
85
Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School
Voluntary aided school

12%

higher standard

65%

expected standard
86
Bournmoor Primary School
Community school

12%

higher standard

65%

expected standard
87
Pittington Primary School
Community school

4%

higher standard

65%

expected standard
88
Etherley Lane Primary School
Community school

3%

higher standard

65%

expected standard
89
Shield Row Primary School
Academy sponsor led

0%

higher standard

65%

expected standard
90
Shotton Hall Primary School
Community school

22%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
91
Ribbon School
Academy converter

11%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
92
Ludworth Primary School
Community school

9%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
93
Roseberry Primary and Nursery School
Community school

8%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
94
Shotton Primary School
Community school

8%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
95
Seaview Primary School
Community school

7%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
96
Tanfield Lea Community Primary School
Community school

2%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
97
Ramshaw Primary School
Community school

0%

higher standard

64%

expected standard
98
Chilton Academy
Academy converter

7%

higher standard

63%

expected standard
99
Hartside Primary Academy
Academy converter

7%

higher standard

63%

expected standard
100
Byers Green Primary School
Community school

0%

higher standard

63%

expected standard

Common questions

Which is the best primary school in County Durham?: By 2024/25 exam results alone, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate ranks first of 185 ranked primary schools in County Durham, with 100% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Results reflect each school's cohort as well as its teaching, so treat the ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict.
How are schools in County Durham ranked?: Primary schools are ranked by the share of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25, from the Department for Education's published results. Ofsted judgements are never part of the ranking, because inspections from different eras cannot fairly be compared, and special and independent schools are not ranked because their published figures do not compare fairly.
How many primary schools are ranked in County Durham?: 185 primary schools in County Durham published 2024/25 results and are ranked here. Schools without published results, special schools and independent schools are listed on the area's own page instead.

Exam results come from the Department for Education's school performance service and cover the 2024/25 academic year. Schools without published results for that year are not listed.