Moorside Primary Academy
Consett, DH8 8EQ · County Durham · primary school
Check the area around this school
137th 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.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.2/10 against 1,194 of them, against 2.6/10 nationally. 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 | 43.0 · 11 | 40% | 0.42 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 25% | 1.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Moorside Primary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The school achieved a 7.0% rate for the higher standard, matching the national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2025. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club for pupils.
Getting in
The published school roll is 123 pupils against a stated capacity of 126. 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 support pupils to close the gap between the current 43.0% attainment rate and the national median? What specific strategies are in place to maintain the Good Ofsted rating following the 2025 inspection? How do the breakfast and after-school clubs integrate with the core curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Moorside Primary Academy
Overview
Moorside Primary Academy has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school provides a “warm, welcoming and safe environment” where pupils are treated with “kindness and respect.” Staff address pupils’ individual needs well, ensuring a “calm learning environment” that supports academic progress and personal development.
Strengths
- The curriculum emphasises basic skills in English and mathematics, with pupils “recall[ing] and use[ing] their learning well” in these subjects.
- Early reading provision is “strong,” with “well established” daily phonics sessions and confident staff delivery.
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) has been “revitalised,” with curriculum adaptations closely aligned to individual plans.
- Attendance has risen to above the national average, supported by clear behaviour expectations and a “nutritious and calm” breakfast club.
- Pupils take on roles of responsibility willingly, contributing well to the school and wider community through initiatives like eco-warriors and school council elections.
Areas to improve
- The curriculum in subjects other than English and mathematics is “not embedded consistently,” meaning pupils struggle to recall knowledge and vocabulary in these wider areas.
- Two-year-old children are “somewhat overwhelmed” when learning alongside older children in the main early years unit, hindering their language and communication development.
Safeguarding
The report states that “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 | 75% |
| 2023/24 | 47% |
| 2024/25 | 43% |
| 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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