Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington
Cumberland Terrace, Willington, Crook, DL15 0PBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington is a primary school in Crook for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 5th of 10 primary schools in Crook. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 November 2023, report published 12 December 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 November 2023
Pupils love coming to this friendly and inclusive school. They enjoy their lessons. They are polite, kind and courteous to each other and adults. They make visitors feel welcome and are keen to share their experiences and work. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour and achievement. Pupils' behaviour is excellent both in lessons and around school. They demonstrate consistently positive attitudes to their learning. Older pupils successfully model these exemplary behaviours to younger children, such as taking turns and listening to others. This results in younger children showing high levels of self-control too. Adults take pupils' worries and/or concerns seriously. Leaders actively seek pupils' views around a range of issues. For example, pupils contribute wholeheartedly to making the school an even safer environment for learning. Pupils are delighted when their suggestions are adopted by the school. Pupils carry out leadership roles such as school councillors, and mathematics and art ambassadors confidently. These roles help to develop pupils' character. Pupils take their responsibilities seriously and make a difference, both in school and in the wider community.
What the school should improve
- On occasion, some staff do not deliver phonics lessons consistently well. Some of the books that are given to pupils who are at the early stages of reading do not match their phonics knowledge. As a result, some pupils who are at an early stage of learning to read do not do as well as they should. The trust and school leaders should ensure that staff receive the appropriate training and expertise to support all pupils to learn to read well.
- The school's plans to support pupils with SEND are often not precise enough. This means that teachers do not consistently provide effective adaptations for pupils with SEND. As a result, some pupils with SEND do not access the curriculum content. The school should ensure that teachers receive training and support to provide highly effective adaptations for pupils with SEND.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
18 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
122 pupils on roll, with places for 126
Schools near Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willington Primary School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| St Stephen's Church of England Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 58% met the expected standard |
| Sunnybrow Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 36% met the expected standard |
| St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 69% met the expected standard |
| Byers Green Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- BISHOP HOGARTH CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Ruth Veitch
- Phone
- 01388746336
- Address
- Cumberland Terrace, Willington, Crook, DL15 0PB
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 148627
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.