Best Primary Schools in County Durham 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 208 schools across County Durham. Updated with 2025–26 data.

County Durham has 208 primary schools, of which 15 (7%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 175 rated Good — 91% of primary schools in County Durham are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Thornhill Primary School currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in County Durham follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

208
Total schools
15
Outstanding
7%
Outstanding rate
62.1%
Avg KS2 SATs
39.1
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Thornhill Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 94 View school
🥈 Framwellgate Moor Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
🥉 Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
4. Montalbo Nursery & Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
5. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate
Primary
 Good 90 View school
6. Kirk Merrington Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
7. Bullion Lane Primary School
Primary
 Good 87 View school
8. New Seaham Academy
Primary
 Good 87 View school
9. Ingleton CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 85 View school
10. Cockfield Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
11. Sacriston Academy
Primary
 Good 84 View school
12. Evenwood Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
13. St Margaret's Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
14. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall
Primary
 Good 83 View school
15. Coxhoe Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
16. Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
17. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
18. St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
19. Red Rose Primary School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
20. St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village
Primary
 Good 81 View school

Related lists for County Durham

All schools in County DurhamPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in County DurhamYear 7 onwards Outstanding schools in County Durham15 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in County Durham

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

Search schools in County Durham

Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in County Durham?
There are 208 primary schools in County Durham, of which 15 (7%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in County Durham?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in County Durham is Thornhill Primary School. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in County Durham?
Primary and secondary school applications in County Durham are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the County Durham council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in County Durham?
7% of primary schools in County Durham are rated Outstanding and 84% are rated Good. 80.8% are rated Good or Outstanding.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.