Cestria Primary School
Chester le Street, DH3 3PZ · County Durham · primary school
Check the area around this school
23rd of 188 primary schools in County Durham we can score, 208 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 8.5/10 against 4,277 of them, against 8.2/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 74.0 · 76 | 40% | 3.02 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 21.0 · 93 | 25% | 2.32 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Cestria Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 74.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 21.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (8.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.2 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in February 2025.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 426 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school manage class sizes when the roll exceeds capacity? What specific support is available for pupils who do not reach the expected standard? How are the breakfast and after-school clubs structured to support daily routines?
What Ofsted said about Cestria Primary School
Overview
Cestria Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school is described as inclusive with high expectations, where warm relationships ensure pupils are happy and safe. Leaders have successfully sustained high standards over time, with staff morale reported as high.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "stimulating, creative and promotes deep thinking and discussion," with important knowledge clearly mapped out.
- Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, "achieve very highly in national tests" and are well prepared for secondary school.
- Teachers have "secure subject knowledge" and explain concepts clearly, helping pupils embed their learning over time.
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective, ensuring they access and learn the curriculum securely.
- Reading is prioritised, with staff teaching phonics "very effectively" and pupils reading accurately and fluently.
Areas to improve
- There are "occasional inconsistencies in the ways that teachers check what pupils have learned and remembered," meaning misconceptions or knowledge gaps are not always identified. The school should ensure teachers check pupils’ knowledge and understanding systematically.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 88% |
| 2023/24 | 93% |
| 2024/25 | 74% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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