St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor
Hustledown, South Moor, Stanley, DH9 6PHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor is a primary school in Stanley for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 11th of 15 primary schools in Stanley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 2 July 2024, report published 10 September 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 2 July 2024
St Mary's is a welcoming and friendly school where everyone is known well. Pupils are happy and feel part of this small school's community. Relationships between pupils and staff are warm in this Catholic school. This helps pupils to live out the school's vision and 'grow together in the friendship of faith'. Pupils have a secure understanding of mutual respect and show this through positive interactions with each other. The school prioritises the well-being of pupils. They are given regular opportunities to share their views and talk about their feelings. Pupils are confident that their teachers will help them deal with any problems they may have. Leaders have taken rapid action to increase the school's expectations of what pupils can achieve. They have implemented changes well to improve the quality of education pupils receive. These changes are having a positive impact on pupils' current progress and achievement. Behaviour in and out of lessons is calm. Pupils understand and demonstrate the school rules of 'be ready, respectful and safe'. They say that teachers make learning fun. Pupils engage well in class. There are very few instances of low-level disruption. Pupils play well together and enjoy time with their friends from other classes.
What the school should improve
- The school's ambitious curriculum plans are not fully embedded. In some subjects, some older pupils have gaps in their subject knowledge. The school should continue to embed its curriculum plans and ensure these rapidly address gaps in pupils' knowledge.
- Some learning activities are not adapted well enough for pupils with SEND. This means that some pupils do not fully meet the ambitions of the school's curriculum. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and understanding they need to adapt and scaffold learning activities effectively to meet the needs of pupils with SEND.
- Some pupils do not attend school regularly enough. These pupils miss vital learning and fall behind their classmates. The school should continue to implement strategies to improve pupils' attendance, including ongoing work to engage with pupils' families.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
18 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
75 pupils on roll, with places for 105
Schools near St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Stanley Junior School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 74% met the expected standard |
| South Stanley Infant and Nursery School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Greenland Community Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| Bloemfontein Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| Stanley Burnside Primary School | 0.7 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 62% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rachael Anderson
- Phone
- 01207232189
- Address
- Hustledown, South Moor, Stanley, DH9 6PH
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 148845
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.