Best primary schools in County Durham (2026)
County Durham has 271 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 64%, against 62% for England. 25 are in England's top 10%, and 10 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 1% in England |
St Peter's Elwick Church of England Primary School Elwick · Church of England |
92% | 100% | 40% | Good | |
3 Top 2% in England |
Egglescliffe Church of England Primary School Egglescliffe · Church of England |
89% | 94% | 23% | No rating | |
4 Top 2% in England |
St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool Hartlepool · Roman Catholic |
91% | 86% | 18% | Outstanding | |
5 Top 2% in England |
Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School Staindrop · Church of England |
87% | 84% | 31% | Good | |
6 Top 3% in England |
Framwellgate Moor Primary School Durham |
84% | 87% | 33% | Outstanding | |
7 Top 3% in England |
New Seaham Academy Seaham |
87% | 94% | 29% | Good | |
8 Top 3% in England |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle Barnard Castle · Roman Catholic |
83% | 81% | 31% | Good | |
9 Top 4% in England |
Thornhill Primary School Shildon |
86% | 93% | 20% | Outstanding | |
10 Top 4% in England |
Cestria Primary School Chester-le-Street |
85% | 74% | 21% | Good | |
11 Top 5% in England |
Oakdene Primary Academy Billingham |
85% | 91% | 16% | Outstanding | |
12 Top 5% in England |
Junction Farm Primary School Egglescliffe |
84% | 87% | 13% | Not judged | |
13 Top 6% in England |
Wynyard Church of England Primary School Wynyard · Church of England |
82% | 84% | 20% | No rating | |
14 Top 6% in England |
Bullion Lane Primary School Chester-le-Street |
91% | 94% | 3% | Good | |
15 Top 6% in England |
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School Durham · Church of England |
82% | 85% | 16% | Report card | |
16 Top 6% in England |
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham Seaham · Roman Catholic |
81% | 75% | 17% | No rating | |
17 Top 7% in England |
Preston Primary School Egglescliffe |
81% | 83% | 17% | No rating | |
18 Top 7% in England |
Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy Sedgefield |
78% | 87% | 23% | No rating | |
19 Top 8% in England |
The Links Primary School Egglescliffe |
83% | 80% | 20% | Good | |
20 Top 9% in England |
Coxhoe Primary School Coxhoe |
80% | 84% | 18% | Report card | |
21 Top 9% in England |
Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy Stockton-on-Tees |
85% | 88% | 4% | No rating | |
22 Top 9% in England |
Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School Lanchester · Church of England |
76% | 79% | 19% | No rating | |
23 Top 10% in England |
Red Rose Primary School Chester-le-Street |
77% | 81% | 21% | Good | |
24 Top 10% in England |
Hartburn Primary School Stockton-on-Tees |
79% | 81% | 10% | No rating | |
25 Top 10% in England |
Greenland Community Primary School Stanley (County Durham) |
80% | 75% | 11% | No rating | |
26 Top 11% in England |
St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School Durham · Church of England |
80% | 74% | 5% | No rating | |
27 Top 12% in England |
Finchale Primary School Durham |
76% | 78% | 19% | No rating | |
28 Top 13% in England |
St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham Durham · Roman Catholic |
76% | 73% | 10% | Good | |
29 Top 13% in England |
Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy Ferryhill |
81% | 84% | 10% | Not judged | |
30 Top 13% in England |
St Anne's CofE Primary School Bishop Auckland · Church of England |
76% | 73% | 10% | No rating | |
31 Top 13% in England |
St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Catholic Academy Ingleby Barwick · Roman Catholic |
78% | 74% | 16% | Report card | |
32 Top 13% in England |
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Stockton Stockton-on-Tees · Roman Catholic |
78% | 62% | 7% | Good | |
33 Top 14% in England |
Croft Church of England Primary School North Yorkshire · Church of England |
78% | 92% | 15% | Good | |
34 Top 14% in England |
St Helen's Primary School Hartlepool |
79% | 81% | 13% | No rating | |
35 Top 14% in England |
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Darlington · Roman Catholic |
80% | 85% | 9% | No rating | |
36 Top 14% in England |
Kirk Merrington Primary School Kirk Merrington |
79% | 83% | 6% | Outstanding | |
37 Top 14% in England |
Levendale Primary School Yarm |
77% | 76% | 17% | Good | |
38 Top 15% in England |
St Michael's Church of England Primary School Bishop Middleham · Church of England |
76% | 67% | 10% | No rating | |
39 Top 16% in England |
Tudhoe Colliery Primary School Spennymoor |
75% | 72% | 10% | Not judged | |
40 Top 16% in England |
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Darlington · Roman Catholic |
74% | 77% | 13% | No rating | |
41 Top 17% in England |
Norton Primary Academy Stockton-on-Tees |
79% | 78% | 7% | No rating | |
42 Top 17% in England |
Kelloe Primary School Kelloe |
76% | 76% | 10% | No rating | |
43 Top 17% in England |
Hurworth Primary School Hurworth-on-Tees |
70% | 83% | 13% | No rating | |
44 Top 18% in England |
The Oak Tree Academy Stockton-on-Tees |
76% | 74% | 15% | Good | |
45 Top 18% in England |
Lumley Junior School Great Lumley |
75% | 77% | 12% | No rating | |
46 Top 18% in England |
Langley Moor Primary School Brandon (County Durham) |
75% | 77% | 13% | No rating | |
47 Top 18% in England |
Fens Primary School Hartlepool |
76% | 75% | 14% | No rating | |
48 Top 18% in England |
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool Hartlepool · Catholic |
75% | 77% | 16% | Good | |
49 Top 19% in England |
Pittington Primary School High Pittington |
73% | 65% | 4% | No rating | |
50 Top 19% in England |
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School Darlington · Roman Catholic |
74% | 71% | 6% | Good | |
51 Top 19% in England |
Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery Durham |
74% | 67% | 7% | Good | |
52 Top 20% in England |
Vane Road Primary School Newton Aycliffe |
74% | 72% | 14% | Report card | |
53 Top 20% in England |
Browney Primary Academy Brandon (County Durham) |
72% | 71% | 17% | No rating | |
54 Top 20% in England |
St Francis of Assisi Church of England Primary School Ingleby Barwick · Church of England |
76% | 67% | 0% | Good | |
55 Top 21% in England |
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton Annfield Plain · Roman Catholic |
76% | 70% | 4% | No rating | |
56 Top 21% in England |
Mowden Junior School Darlington |
74% | 77% | 13% | Report card | |
57 Top 21% in England |
Barley Fields Primary Ingleby Barwick |
72% | 69% | 13% | Report card | |
58 Top 21% in England |
St Bede's Catholic Academy Stockton-on-Tees · Roman Catholic |
75% | 68% | 4% | Report card | |
59 Top 22% in England |
Wolsingham Primary School Wolsingham |
71% | 76% | 8% | No rating | |
60 Top 23% in England |
Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School Durham · Church of England |
73% | 73% | 9% | Report card | |
61 Top 23% in England |
Stanley (Crook) Primary School County Durham |
73% | 60% | 0% | No rating | |
62 Top 23% in England |
St William's Catholic Primary School Trimdon · Roman Catholic |
73% | 60% | 5% | Good | |
63 Top 23% in England |
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street Chester-le-Street · Roman Catholic |
72% | 77% | 10% | Good | |
64 Top 24% in England |
West Park Academy Darlington |
71% | 67% | 18% | No rating | |
65 Top 24% in England |
Heighington Church of England Primary School Heighington · Church of England |
69% | 69% | 17% | Good | |
66 Top 25% in England |
Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School High Shincliffe · Church of England |
69% | 71% | 7% | Report card | |
67 Top 25% in England |
Mount Pleasant Primary School Darlington |
70% | 76% | 12% | Good | |
68 Top 25% in England |
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village County Durham · Roman Catholic |
71% | 81% | 10% | Good | |
69 Top 25% in England |
St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School Seaham · Roman Catholic |
71% | 76% | 14% | No rating | |
70 Top 25% in England |
Yarm Primary School Yarm |
68% | 69% | 12% | No rating | |
71 Top 25% in England |
Stranton Primary School Hartlepool |
72% | 71% | 11% | Outstanding | |
72 Top 25% in England |
Eldon Grove Academy Hartlepool |
69% | 75% | 16% | No rating | |
73 Top 25% in England |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall Blackhall Colliery · Roman Catholic |
67% | 85% | 23% | No rating | |
74 Top 25% in England |
Christ The King Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Catholic Academy Thornaby-on-Tees · Roman Catholic |
69% | 56% | 10% | No rating | |
75 Top 26% in England |
Whinstone Primary School Ingleby Barwick |
71% | 73% | 13% | No rating | |
76 Top 26% in England |
Eskdale Academy Hartlepool |
72% | 62% | 8% | Report card | |
77 Top 27% in England |
St Joseph's Catholic Academy Stockton-on-Tees · Roman Catholic |
70% | 56% | 3% | No rating | |
78 Top 27% in England |
Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool Gainford · Church of England |
67% | 67% | 17% | No rating | |
79 Top 27% in England |
Rift House Primary School Hartlepool |
71% | 71% | 14% | Good | |
80 Top 28% in England |
Ebchester CofE Primary School Ebchester · Church of England |
73% | 67% | 13% | Good | |
81 Top 28% in England |
Abbey Junior School Darlington |
71% | 77% | 8% | No rating | |
82 Top 28% in England |
Sedgefield Primary School Sedgefield |
68% | 73% | 17% | No rating | |
83 Top 29% in England |
Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School Durham · Church of England |
67% | 65% | 12% | No rating | |
84 Top 29% in England |
Nettlesworth Primary School Nettlesworth and Kimblesworth |
70% | 80% | 10% | No rating | |
85 Top 29% in England |
Westlea Primary School Seaham |
71% | 77% | 9% | Good | |
86 Top 29% in England |
Seaview Primary School Seaham |
70% | 64% | 7% | Good | |
87 Top 30% in England |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Newton Aycliffe · Roman Catholic |
74% | 84% | 0% | Good | |
88 Top 30% in England |
Hesleden Primary School County Durham |
71% | 42% | 0% | Report card | |
89 Top 30% in England |
Rosa Street Primary and Nursery Academy Spennymoor |
71% | 70% | 4% | Good | |
90 Top 31% in England |
Fairfield Primary School Stockton-on-Tees |
70% | 73% | 13% | No rating | |
91 Top 31% in England |
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School Hartlepool · Church of England |
71% | 73% | 3% | Good | |
92 Top 31% in England |
Sacriston Academy Sacriston |
69% | 88% | 8% | Report card | |
93 Top 32% in England |
St John's Church of England Academy Darlington · Church of England |
70% | 70% | 10% | Outstanding | |
94 Top 32% in England |
Toft Hill Primary School Toft Hill and High Etherley |
69% | 74% | 13% | Not judged | |
95 Top 32% in England |
Kirklevington Primary School Kirklevington |
70% | 63% | 11% | No rating | |
96 Top 32% in England |
Wolviston Primary School Wolviston |
68% | 57% | 7% | Not judged | |
97 Top 32% in England |
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton Shotton Colliery · Roman Catholic |
69% | 71% | 10% | Good | |
98 Top 33% in England |
Witton-le-Wear Primary School Witton-le-Wear |
66% | 56% | 13% | Not judged | |
99 Top 33% in England |
Village Primary School Thornaby-on-Tees |
69% | 60% | 0% | No rating | |
100 Top 34% in England |
Hartside Primary Academy Crook |
70% | 63% | 7% | No rating |
Showing the top 100 of 271. See all 271 and filter them.
Best primary school in each town
- Barnard Castle · best: Montalbo Nursery & Primary School
- Egglescliffe · best: Egglescliffe Church of England Primary School
- Hartlepool · best: St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool
- Durham · best: Framwellgate Moor Primary School
- Seaham · best: New Seaham Academy
- Shildon · best: Thornhill Primary School
- Chester-le-Street · best: Cestria Primary School
- Billingham · best: Oakdene Primary Academy
- Stockton-on-Tees · best: Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy
- Stanley (County Durham) · best: Greenland Community Primary School
- Ferryhill · best: Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy
- Bishop Auckland · best: St Anne's CofE Primary School
- Ingleby Barwick · best: St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Catholic Academy
- Darlington · best: St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
- Yarm · best: Levendale Primary School
- Spennymoor · best: Tudhoe Colliery Primary School
- Brandon (County Durham) · best: Langley Moor Primary School
- Newton Aycliffe · best: Vane Road Primary School
- Annfield Plain · best: St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
- Thornaby-on-Tees · best: Christ The King Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Catholic Academy
- Crook · best: Hartside Primary Academy
- Peterlee · best: Shotton Hall Primary School
- Consett · best: Consett Junior School
- Willington (County Durham) · best: Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington
- Ushaw Moor and Bearpark · best: Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor
Also see
Questions
What is the best primary school in County Durham?
On exam results over the last three years, Montalbo Nursery & Primary School is the top-ranked primary school in County Durham, 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.