Newker Primary School
Waldridge Road, Chester le Street, DH2 3AAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Newker Primary School is a primary school in Chester le Street for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 10th of 16 primary schools in Chester le Street. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 May 2025, report published 15 June 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- 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 7 May 2025
The school has high expectations of pupils' achievements and conduct. Pupils live up to these expectations. Children in early years are keen to share what they are learning. They form good habits for learning together. Pupils, of all ages, have positive attitudes to learning and follow routines well. As a result, the school has a calm and orderly atmosphere. Lessons are purposeful. Pupils are respectful and polite. They behave well in classrooms. They appreciate the variety of breaks and lunch time activities available for them to enjoy. Pupils feel safe. They know there is support around them when they need it. Pupils are ambitious because staff foster this well. They go on to do well in the subjects they study and appreciate the help they get to achieve. Pupils have opportunities that develop their leadership skills and broaden their cultural capital. Some are school councillors and 'waste warriors'. Play leaders encourage their peers to be active at breaktimes and lunchtimes and peer mentors support younger pupils in their life in school. Pupils value their visits outside of school, such as to the theatre and various places of worship. They also enjoy a wide range of sporting activities, both in and beyond school.
What the school should improve
- In a few subjects, there is inconsistency in the delivery of the planned curriculum. Consequently, some pupils have not covered all the key knowledge the school wants them to learn. The school should ensure that all subjects are delivered in the desired sequence, and that assessment is used well to identify what needs to be done next.
- Some aspects of pupils' personal development are not implemented as well as they could be. This means that pupils are not fully benefiting from this planned learning. The school should ensure that the learning around equality and diversity is implemented effectively in all year groups.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
59 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
340 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Newker Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullion Lane Primary School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Good | 94% met the expected standard |
| Cestria Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 74% met the expected standard |
| Red Rose Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 81% met the expected standard |
| St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 77% met the expected standard |
| Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School | 0.8 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 66% 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 Melanie Kirkland
- Phone
- 01913887099
- Address
- Waldridge Road, Chester le Street, DH2 3AA
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 131233
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.