Ropery Walk Primary School
Seaham, SR7 7JZ · County Durham · primary school
Check the area around this school
52nd 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 — 7.9/10 against 2,197 of them, against 6.5/10 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 | 68.0 · 60 | 40% | 2.40 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 12.0 · 74 | 25% | 1.85 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ropery Walk Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 68.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, 12.0% achieved this, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in December 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 219 pupils against a stated capacity of 315. 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 who are not yet meeting the expected standard in literacy? What does a typical day look like for a child in the upper primary years? How does the school communicate progress to parents between formal report times?
What Ofsted said about Ropery Walk Primary School
Overview
Ropery Walk Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” Pupils describe themselves as “happy and safe,” benefiting from “excellent” behaviour and high expectations from staff. The school fosters a positive culture where children feel respected and supported in their learning.
Strengths
- Reading is a “firm priority,” with phonics taught “with fidelity” and books “carefully matched to the sounds pupils know,” helping pupils “learn to read well.”
- Behaviour is “exemplary” because staff maintain high expectations; bullying “rarely happens” and pupils are confident issues are resolved quickly.
- Early years provision offers a “great start” in Reception, with a “language- and number-rich environment” indoors supporting rapid learning.
- Parents are “highly positive” about the school, particularly regarding reading progress and “communication between home and school.”
- Staff feel valued, noting leaders are “highly considerate of their workload and well-being” in this “friendly, happy, ambitious school.”
Areas to improve
- Assessment in “wider curriculum subjects” is less developed than in core subjects, meaning it does not always “accurately check what pupils have learned.”
- Outdoor resources in the early years are “not as well matched to the curriculum intent for literacy, mathematics and communication and language” as indoor resources.
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 | 64% |
| 2023/24 | 60% |
| 2024/25 | 68% |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of SR7 7JZ, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT