Bloemfontein Primary School
The Middles, Craghead, Stanley, DH9 6AGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Bloemfontein Primary School is a primary school in Stanley for ages 0 to 11. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 6th of 15 primary schools in Stanley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 23 April 2024, report published 22 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 23 April 2024
Pupils are proud of their school and their achievements. They respond well to the high expectations set by teachers for both learning and behaviour. Pupils are challenged by the school curriculum to think deeply about their learning and to make connections with what they already know. There is a calm, purposeful working environment. Pupils enjoy coming to school where they feel safe and well cared for. The youngest children in the early years love being in class and are eager to learn. They are well supported and guided by adults in their learning activities. Children in the early years have many opportunities to observe the awe and wonder of nature, for example observing chicks hatch in class. They are well prepared for their learning in key stage 1. Pupils' knowledge and understanding of life in modern-day Britain are at the heart of the school's personal development offer. Pupils recall their learning about equalities and fundamental British values well. They know why these aspects are important. Pupils look forward to the school camp, residentials and active outdoor activities. They relish the extra responsibilities they have, for example being sports leaders or librarians.
What the school should improve
- Many aspects of the school's curriculum and processes are new. The impact of these changes is not fully understood or realised. The school should continue its work to build staff knowledge and capacity so that their ambitious vision is implemented, evaluated and refined consistently well.
- The school's approach to teaching handwriting is not having the intended impact in key stage 2. As a result, some pupils' handwriting is under-developed. The school should ensure that the teaching of handwriting, including letter formation, continues to be prioritised.
- The outdoor provision in early years is not of the same standard as the indoor environment. This means that children are not experiencing as rich a learning experience in the outdoors area as the school would like them to. The school should continue to improve the quality of children's outdoor learning experience.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
21 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
127 pupils on roll, with places for 200
Schools near Bloemfontein Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 22% met the expected standard |
| Stanley Burnside Primary School | 0.6 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 62% met the expected standard |
| South Stanley Junior School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 74% met the expected standard |
| South Stanley Infant and Nursery School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Greenland Community Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- STANLEY LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
- Age range
- 0 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Alex Armstrong
- Phone
- 01207232198
- Address
- The Middles, Craghead, Stanley, DH9 6AG
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 145983
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.