Primary schools in Durham, ranked
The 42 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.
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1
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate
Academy converter
0%higher standard100%expected standard -
2
Sacriston Academy
Academy sponsor led
8%higher standard88%expected standard -
3
Framwellgate Moor Primary School
Community school
33%higher standard87%expected standard -
4
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School
Voluntary controlled school
16%higher standard85%expected standard -
5
Coxhoe Primary School
Community school
18%higher standard84%expected standard -
6
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village
Academy converter
10%higher standard81%expected standard -
7
Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School
Voluntary controlled school
19%higher standard79%expected standard -
8
Finchale Primary School
Community school
19%higher standard78%expected standard -
9
St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston
Academy converter
11%higher standard78%expected standard -
10
Langley Moor Primary School
Community school
13%higher standard77%expected standard -
11
All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester
Academy converter
13%higher standard74%expected standard -
12
St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School
Voluntary aided school
5%higher standard74%expected standard -
13
St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham
Academy converter
10%higher standard73%expected standard -
14
Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Voluntary controlled school
9%higher standard73%expected standard -
15
New Brancepeth Primary Academy
Academy converter
9%higher standard73%expected standard -
16
Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School
Community school
9%higher standard72%expected standard -
17
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton
Academy converter
10%higher standard71%expected standard -
18
Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Voluntary controlled school
7%higher standard71%expected standard -
19
Middlestone Moor Academy
Academy converter
0%higher standard71%expected standard -
20
Wheatley Hill Community Primary School
Community school
2%higher standard68%expected standard -
21
Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery
Community school
7%higher standard67%expected standard -
22
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor
Academy converter
0%higher standard67%expected standard -
23
Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School
Voluntary aided school
12%higher standard65%expected standard -
24
Pittington Primary School
Community school
4%higher standard65%expected standard -
25
Ludworth Primary School
Community school
9%higher standard64%expected standard -
26
Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School
Academy converter
7%higher standard60%expected standard -
27
Laurel Avenue Community Primary School
Community school
0%higher standard60%expected standard -
28
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor
Academy converter
0%higher standard60%expected standard -
29
South Hetton Primary
Academy sponsor led
17%higher standard57%expected standard -
30
Brandon Primary Academy
Academy converter
14%higher standard57%expected standard -
31
Sherburn Primary School
Community school
7%higher standard57%expected standard -
32
Esh Winning Academy
Academy converter
6%higher standard57%expected standard -
33
Thornley Academy
Academy converter
4%higher standard54%expected standard -
34
Witton Gilbert Primary School
Community school
10%higher standard53%expected standard -
35
Cassop Primary School
Community school
7%higher standard53%expected standard -
36
Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery
Community school
7%higher standard52%expected standard -
37
Langley Park Primary School
Academy converter
5%higher standard50%expected standard -
38
Durham Gilesgate Primary School
Community school
4%higher standard50%expected standard -
39
Burnhope Primary School
Academy converter
0%higher standard50%expected standard -
40
St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley
Academy converter
14%higher standard43%expected standard -
41
Edmondsley Primary Academy
Academy converter
4%higher standard38%expected standard -
42
Bearpark Primary School
Community school
8%higher standard31%expected standard
Common questions
- Which is the best primary school in Durham?
- By 2024/25 exam results alone, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate ranks first of 42 ranked primary schools in 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 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 Durham?
- 42 primary schools in 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.