Best State Schools in County Durham

Shotton Primary School is a well-respected and nurturing school in North East. Led by Mrs. Heather Shaw, the school provides a safe and supportive environment for children aged 3-11. With a low student-teacher ratio of 20:1, the school focuses on individualized attention. The school excels in academics with a Good Ofsted rating and good achievement of pupils. With a diverse and inclusive community, Shotton Primary School ensures the wellbeing and success of every child.

St Bede's Catholic Academy is a co-ed Roman Catholic primary school located in Stockton-on-Tees. With a student teacher ratio of 20:1, the school provides a nurturing and inclusive environment for children aged 3-11. Offering a strong academic foundation, the school achieved an overall grade of A-, with a focus on academics and diverse learning resources. With dedicated teachers and a supportive community, St Bede's Catholic Academy ensures every child receives a quality education.

West Rainton Primary School is a well-rounded educational institution, offering a rich and balanced curriculum that promotes inclusive learning for children aged 2-11. With a focus on clear planning and effective classroom routines, the school ensures every child receives a quality education. With strong safeguarding measures in place, close collaboration with parents and carers, and a positive relationship with the wider community, West Rainton Primary School fosters a supportive environment where every child matters. While the school has demonstrated good overall effectiveness, with effective teaching for disadvantaged and SEN pupils, it continues to work towards improving reading outcomes and providing greater challenge for high-achieving students.

Victoria Lane Academy is a primary school located in Coundon, Durham. With a positive and friendly ethos, the school focuses on developing reading and handwriting skills for students aged 3-11. The school offers nursery classes and has a student-teacher ratio of 23:1. With good overall effectiveness and achievement of pupils, Victoria Lane Academy provides a quality education supported by effective safeguarding measures.

Reid Street Primary School is a co-ed primary school located in Darlington, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 20:1, the school provides a nurturing environment for children aged 4-11. The school has been rated 'Good' by Ofsted, with outstanding behaviour and safety. With a focus on academic achievement, the school has shown excellent results in maths and reading, with 20% of students achieving at a higher standard. The dedicated staff and resources at Reid Street Primary School ensure an enriching learning experience for all students.

Hope Wood Academy is an all-through school located in Easington Colliery, North East. With an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 8:1, the school provides a safe and nurturing environment for students aged 2-19. Led by highly effective leaders, the school focuses on quality teaching and learning, outstanding behavior, and welfare. Although opportunities to challenge the most able pupils are sometimes missed, the school offers a well-planned and structured curriculum. Overall, Hope Wood Academy is a good school that prioritizes personal development and ensures the safety and success of its students.

Manor Community Academy is a secondary school located in Hartlepool, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 21:1, the school provides a supportive learning environment for students aged 11-16. The school has been graded as 'Good' by Ofsted, highlighting its quality of education and leadership. It offers a range of resources and strives for personal development. With a focus on academic achievement, the school's exam results show that 41% of students achieved Grade 5 or above in English & maths GCSEs in 2019. Additionally, the school supports students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and provides inclusive education for all.

Honeybeez Pre-School is a Church of England primary school offering a wide range of activities and effective learning for children aged 3-11. With strong partnerships in safeguarding, our dedicated staff ensures children settle quickly, build self-esteem, and achieve good outcomes. Join us for a nurturing and enriching educational experience.

Stanley (Crook) Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school located in Durham. With a student-teacher ratio of 23:1, our dedicated staff provide exceptional care for personal and emotional development. Our good Ofsted rating reflects the quality of teaching and learning, as well as outstanding personal development, behaviour, and welfare. We offer a curriculum enriched with enrichment activities and have achieved good outcomes for pupils. We strive for academic success with above-average scores in maths and reading. Join us to provide your child with an excellent education in a safe and nurturing environment.

Durham Trinity School & Sports College is an all-through school located in Durham, North East. With a student teacher ratio of 8:1, the school provides individualized attention to each student. The school offers a safe and nurturing environment with excellent resources. It has been rated 'Good' by Ofsted, demonstrating effective leadership, teaching, and personal development. With a focus on sports and academic achievement, Durham Trinity prepares students for success in their educational journey.

Villa Real School is an all-through school in Durham, offering education for students aged 2-19. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, our dedicated staff provide individualized support and a nurturing environment. We have excellent resources, ensuring a high standard of education. Our Ofsted report highlights our good overall effectiveness, quality of education, and personal development. We offer a strong early years provision and a good sixth-form program. Our exam results show above-average scores in maths and reading. Villa Real School is committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Sugar Hill Primary School is an outstanding primary school located in Great Aycliffe. With highly effective leadership and management, the school offers a nurturing and engaging environment for children aged 3-11. The school excels in academic achievement, with excellent exam results and a focus on individual progress. Students benefit from outstanding teaching, strong relationships between staff and pupils, and a wide range of extracurricular activities. Sugar Hill Primary School is dedicated to ensuring every child reaches their full potential and fosters a strong partnership between home and school.

North Durham Academy is a secondary school located in Stanley, North East. With a strong focus on providing an exemplary education, the school prioritizes the well-being and success of its students. With a student teacher ratio of 17:1 and a Good rating from Ofsted, parents can trust that their children will receive high-quality teaching and support. The school values kindness, optimism, honesty, resolve, and respect, and works towards creating a safe and inclusive learning environment. With a 29% Grade 5 or above in English & maths GCSEs and a 51% achievement of GCSE grades 4 or higher, North Durham Academy demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence.

Moorside Primary Academy is a co-educational school located in Moorside, Durham. With a nurturing and inclusive environment, we provide education for children aged 2-11 years. Led by Mrs Helen Templeton, our dedicated staff ensures that every child receives personalized support and achieves their full potential. Our small class sizes and emphasis on individual progress make Moorside an excellent choice for parents seeking quality education for their children.

Haughton Academy is a secondary school located in Darlington, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, we provide excellent academic support and individual attention to our diverse student body. Our dedicated teachers and resources contribute to our overall grade of B-, ensuring a good quality education for every student. We prioritize personal development, behaviour, and attitudes, creating a safe and inclusive environment. Our recent exam results show that 38% of students achieved Grade 5 or above in English & maths GCSEs, reflecting our commitment to academic excellence.

The Horizon School in Hartlepool, established in 1997, offers a high-quality secondary education for boys and girls aged 11-16. Led by Mr Martyn Gordon, the school has been rated 'Good' by Ofsted, reflecting its effective leadership, quality teaching, and positive outcomes for students. With a low student-to-teacher ratio, personal development and welfare are prioritized at The Horizon School.

The Rydal Academy is a primary school located in Darlington, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, the school focuses on providing individualized attention and support to its students. The school emphasizes on personal development, good behavior, and leadership skills. It offers a diverse and inclusive environment where students can thrive academically and socially. The school's strong resources and dedicated teachers ensure a high-quality education. The recent Ofsted report rates the school as 'Good' in overall effectiveness and the quality of education. The academy also boasts impressive exam results, with 43% of students achieving GCSE 4 or higher.

The Meadows School is a co-ed secondary school located in Spennymoor, North East. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 3:1, the school offers a broad and relevant curriculum, focusing on social, emotional, and mental health needs. The school has shown improvement in teaching and learning, preparing students well for their next stage of education. However, there are areas that require improvement, such as attendance, spelling, punctuation, grammar standards, and pushing the most able students forward consistently. Overall, the school provides a safe and resourceful environment for students, but parental involvement and accountability from the leadership could be strengthened.

West Cornforth Primary School is an outstanding school with knowledgeable teachers and exceptional progress and attainment of pupils. With a strong leadership team, the school provides skilled teaching of phonics in early years and key stage 1. The school ensures excellent personal development, behaviour, and welfare, creating a nurturing environment for students to thrive.

Stranton Primary School is a co-educational school located in Hartlepool, North East. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1, our dedicated staff provides personalized attention and support to each student. We have a diverse and inclusive community, with English not being the first language for 13.30% of our students. Our school offers a nurturing environment where students with special educational needs receive the necessary support. We pride ourselves on our excellent academic standards, reflected in our average scores of 105 in maths and 104 in reading. Stranton Primary School is committed to providing a safe and enriching learning experience for all students.