Best primary schools in Barnard Castle (2026)
Barnard Castle has 3 ranked primary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Montalbo Nursery & Primary School, in the top 1% in England. The average reading, writing & maths here in 2025 was 74%, against 62% for England. 2 are in England's top 10%, and 1 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
| Rank | School | Reading, writing & maths (2023–2025 average) | Reading, writing & maths 2025 | Trend | Higher standard | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 1% in England |
Montalbo Nursery & Primary School Barnard Castle |
92% | 85% | 30% | Outstanding | |
2 Top 3% in England |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle Barnard Castle · Roman Catholic |
83% | 81% | 31% | Good | |
3 Bottom 45% in England |
Green Lane Church of England Primary School Barnard Castle · Church of England |
61% | 55% | 8% | No rating |
Other towns in County Durham
- Annfield Plain
- Billingham
- Bishop Auckland
- Brandon (County Durham)
- Chester-le-Street
- Consett
- Crook
- Darlington
- Durham
- Egglescliffe
- Ferryhill
- Hartlepool
- Ingleby Barwick
- Newton Aycliffe
- Peterlee
- Seaham
- Shildon
- Spennymoor
- Stanley (County Durham)
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Thornaby-on-Tees
- Ushaw Moor and Bearpark
- Willington (County Durham)
- Yarm
Also see
Questions
What is the best primary school in Barnard Castle?
On exam results over the last three years, Montalbo Nursery & Primary School is the top-ranked primary school in Barnard Castle, in the top 1% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.