Best Primary Schools in Durham

We checked all 44 primary schools in Durham, County Durham, and list every one: 42 ranked, then 2 without a rank.

Schools checked
44
Ranked
42
Without a rank
2

Ranks combine 2024/25 SATs results, worth 60% of each school's score, with the latest Ofsted outcome, worth 40%, as how we rank schools sets out. Rank 1 is the highest score in Durham. Schools with the same score share a rank. Schools without published results or an Ofsted outcome follow the ranked schools, in name order.

Durham also has 7 secondary schools, ranked on GCSE results and Ofsted. Every school in the area is also listed with the other schools in County Durham. County Durham also has rankings for Bishop Auckland, Chester le Street, Stanley, Consett and Peterlee.

Ranked primary schools in Durham

  1. Rank 1

    Framwellgate Moor Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 375 pupils, inspected May 2024

    Ofsted: Outstanding
    Expected standard
    87%
    Higher standard
    33%
  2. Rank 2

    Coxhoe Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 309 pupils, inspected April 2026

    Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
    Expected standard
    84%
    Higher standard
    18%
  3. Rank 3

    St Margaret's Church of England Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 397 pupils, inspected February 2026

    Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
    Expected standard
    85%
    Higher standard
    16%
  4. Rank 4

    Sacriston Academy

    Academy, 190 pupils, inspected June 2026

    Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
    Expected standard
    88%
    Higher standard
    8%
  5. Rank 5

    Finchale Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 209 pupils, inspected January 2015

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    78%
    Higher standard
    19%
  6. Rank 6

    Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 455 pupils, inspected October 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    79%
    Higher standard
    19%
  7. Rank 7

    St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village

    Academy, 203 pupils, inspected May 2022

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    81%
    Higher standard
    10%
  8. Rank 8

    Langley Moor Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 195 pupils, inspected March 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    77%
    Higher standard
    13%
  9. Rank 9

    All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester

    Academy, 165 pupils, inspected June 2012

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    74%
    Higher standard
    13%
  10. Rank 10

    Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 206 pupils, inspected April 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    72%
    Higher standard
    9%
  11. Rank 11

    St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham

    Academy, 212 pupils, inspected November 2021

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    73%
    Higher standard
    10%
  12. Rank 12

    Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton

    Academy, 156 pupils, inspected June 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    71%
    Higher standard
    10%
  13. Rank 13

    St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston

    Academy, 97 pupils, inspected September 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    78%
    Higher standard
    11%
  14. Rank 14

    Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 195 pupils, inspected May 2026

    Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
    Expected standard
    71%
    Higher standard
    7%
  15. Rank 15

    St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate

    Academy, 86 pupils, inspected September 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    100%
    Higher standard
    0%
  16. Rank 16

    St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School

    Local authority maintained, 137 pupils, inspected September 2017

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    74%
    Higher standard
    5%
  17. Rank 17

    Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 261 pupils, inspected January 2026

    Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
    Expected standard
    73%
    Higher standard
    9%
  18. Rank 18

    Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School

    Local authority maintained, 214 pupils, inspected November 2012

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    65%
    Higher standard
    12%
  19. Rank 19

    New Brancepeth Primary Academy

    Academy, 109 pupils, inspected October 2024

    Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
    Expected standard
    73%
    Higher standard
    9%
  20. Rank 20

    South Hetton Primary

    Academy, 202 pupils, inspected September 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    57%
    Higher standard
    17%
  21. Rank 21

    St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor

    Academy, 66 pupils, inspected June 2025

    Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
    Expected standard
    67%
    Higher standard
    0%
  22. Rank 22

    Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery

    Local authority maintained, 277 pupils, inspected June 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    67%
    Higher standard
    7%
  23. Rank 23

    Brandon Primary Academy

    Academy, 280 pupils, inspected December 2024

    Ofsted judgements: Good
    Expected standard
    57%
    Higher standard
    14%
  24. Rank 24

    St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley

    Academy, 75 pupils, inspected March 2019

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    43%
    Higher standard
    14%
  25. Rank 25

    Ludworth Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 84 pupils, inspected July 2014

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    64%
    Higher standard
    9%
  26. Rank 25

    Witton Gilbert Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 188 pupils, inspected July 2017

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    53%
    Higher standard
    10%
  27. Rank 27

    Pittington Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 196 pupils, inspected September 2011

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    65%
    Higher standard
    4%
  28. Rank 28

    Wheatley Hill Community Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 445 pupils, inspected October 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    68%
    Higher standard
    2%
  29. Rank 29

    Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School

    Academy, 98 pupils, inspected July 2022

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    60%
    Higher standard
    7%
  30. Rank 30

    Middlestone Moor Academy

    Academy, 265 pupils, inspected February 2026

    Report card: Needs attention to strong standard
    Expected standard
    71%
    Higher standard
    0%
  31. Rank 31

    Cassop Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 114 pupils, inspected March 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    53%
    Higher standard
    7%
  32. Rank 32

    Sherburn Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 176 pupils, inspected June 2016

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    57%
    Higher standard
    7%
  33. Rank 33

    Laurel Avenue Community Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 114 pupils, inspected February 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    60%
    Higher standard
    0%
  34. Rank 34

    Esh Winning Academy

    Academy, 287 pupils, inspected March 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    57%
    Higher standard
    6%
  35. Rank 35

    Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery

    Local authority maintained, 201 pupils, inspected June 2018

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    52%
    Higher standard
    7%
  36. Rank 36

    Durham Gilesgate Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 164 pupils, inspected May 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    50%
    Higher standard
    4%
  37. Rank 37

    Thornley Academy

    Academy, 124 pupils, inspected March 2015

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    54%
    Higher standard
    4%
  38. Rank 38

    Bearpark Primary School

    Local authority maintained, 105 pupils, inspected February 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    31%
    Higher standard
    8%
  39. Rank 39

    Edmondsley Primary Academy

    Academy, 163 pupils, inspected October 2019

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    38%
    Higher standard
    4%
  40. Rank 40

    Burnhope Primary School

    Academy, 69 pupils, inspected January 2019

    Ofsted: Good
    Expected standard
    50%
    Higher standard
    0%
  41. Rank 41

    Langley Park Primary School

    Academy, 183 pupils, inspected June 2024

    Ofsted: Requires improvement
    Expected standard
    50%
    Higher standard
    5%
  42. Rank 42

    Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor

    Academy, 98 pupils, inspected October 2023

    Ofsted: Requires improvement
    Expected standard
    60%
    Higher standard
    0%

Primary schools in Durham without a rank