Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 December 2025

Chester-le-Street Church of England Primary School is a warm, welcoming and inclusive school. Leaders and staff know pupils well. Pupils new to the school, regardless of needs or background, quickly settle and feel that they belong. Classrooms provide inspiring settings that promote learning. Pupils speak enthusiastically about their experiences. Pupils with barriers to learning are supported well to access the school's offer. They benefit from the range of opportunities at the school. Staff are kind and caring with pupils and their families. Leaders have prioritised their work to engage and support parents and carers. Pupils typically attend well because they feel welcomed and understood by staff. By the end of Year 6, most children are well prepared for the next stage of their education. This is reflected in national test outcomes. However, further work is needed to improve outcomes in phonics to ensure that more pupils have the knowledge they need to be successful learners. Pupils are proud of the creative work that they produce, such as the William Morris-style prints, which are particularly impressive. Visitors to the school and educational visits help to bring learning to life and instil in pupils an enthusiasm for learning. Pupils demonstrate respect and tolerance for all. They have a secure understanding of the importance of equality. Children get off to a positive start in the early years. Leaders design activities that build early reading, writing and mathematics skills. Staff frequently use songs, rhymes and stories to make learning engaging. Personal development strategies are carefully chosen to nurture rounded individuals. For example, pupils learn how their brains work, helping them build resilience and manage their emotions. Pupils are polite and respectful. Pupils behave well in lessons and around school. Pupils feel safe and report that bullying is rare. They are confident staff deal swiftly and effectively with any incidents that may occur.

What the school should improve

• Leaders need to ensure that gaps in pupils' key knowledge in writing and phonics are quickly closed by embedding the improvements introduced to the teaching of these aspects of the curriculum.
• Leaders should ensure that older pupils who are still at the early stage of learning to read are supported to catch up swiftly, ensuring that activities and resources enable them to practise and embed their phonic knowledge.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)