Cotherstone Primary School
Cotherstone, Barnard Castle, DL12 9QBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Cotherstone Primary School is a primary school in Barnard Castle for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 139th of 184 primary schools in County Durham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 28 February 2024, report published 24 April 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 28 February 2024
Pupils enjoy attending Cotherstone Primary School. It is a small, welcoming and close-knit community. The school provides a nurturing environment where pupils can 'believe, aspire and thrive together'. Staff know pupils very well. Pupils are happy, confident and respectful. The school ensures that the curriculum is relevant to the needs and interests of the pupils, for example drawing on many pupils' love of nature. As a result, pupils are enthusiastic about their learning. Teachers have high expectations of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils behave very well in lessons. Teachers regularly praise pupils and recognise their achievements. Pupils are motivated by the house points that they receive. Pupils learn to read and write well but are less secure in their mathematical understanding. The school supports the personal development of all pupils well. Pupils are safe. They understand that every person is unique and that differences between people should be celebrated. The school has provided pupils with opportunities to learn from a wide range of visiting speakers, such as a Buddhist monk, a representative from the nearby Sikh community and a footballer who is blind. Pupils enjoy a range of educational visits and experiences that deepen their understanding of the curriculum.
What the school should improve
- The implementation of the new mathematics curriculum is in the early stages. This means the impact of the new curriculum has not been realised. Pupils have not always made the sustained progress in mathematics of which they are capable. The school must embed the new mathematics curriculum consistently so that pupils secure and deepen their fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
- The school does not check what pupils know and remember consistently. This means that they do not identify and address the misconceptions that pupils have. The school must ensure that teachers check pupils' knowledge and understanding systematically so that gaps in knowledge and skills can be quickly identified and addressed.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
10 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
66 pupils on roll, with places for 84
Schools near Cotherstone Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montalbo Nursery & Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 85% met the expected standard |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 81% met the expected standard |
| Green Lane Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 55% met the expected standard |
| Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School | 4 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Not published |
| Middleton-In-Teesdale Academy | 5 miles | Ofsted: Inadequate | 58% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Julie Gibson
- Phone
- 01833650491
- Address
- Cotherstone, Barnard Castle, DL12 9QB
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 114020
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.