Shield Row Primary School
Stanley, DH9 0HQ · County Durham · primary school
Check the area around this school
111st 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 — 4.1/10 against 2,363 of them, against 3.6/10 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 | 65.0 · 52 | 40% | 2.07 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Shield Row Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 65.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The proportion reaching the higher standard was 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join a yoga club, play netball, football, tag rugby, rounders, cross country, athletics, and gymnastics, or participate in multi-sports. The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 196 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. 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 reaching the higher standard in core subjects? What specific activities are available in the after-school club?
What Ofsted said about Shield Row Primary School
Overview
Shield Row Primary School continues to be a good school, described as a place where pupils thrive in a happy and industrious environment. The report highlights "strong relationships" as the bedrock of success, with high expectations driving excellent behaviour and engagement. While the curriculum is highly ambitious and consistently implemented, some aspects require refinement to ensure pupils have the secure knowledge needed for complex tasks.
Strengths
- "Curriculums are highly ambitious" with carefully mapped knowledge steps and useful "knowledge organisers" that help pupils remember key information.
- The school has established a "strong reading culture," ensuring pupils read books closely matched to their phonics knowledge to build confidence.
- "Exceptionally well" provided for pupils’ personal development, with opportunities to understand different cultures and develop talents through extra-curricular activities.
- Robust systems for managing special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including precise individual targets and extensive staff training.
- Attendance is improving, with the number of persistently absent pupils reducing due to "robust procedures" for managing absence.
Areas to improve
- Leaders need to strengthen curriculum development so pupils have a "secure grasp of subject-specific disciplinary knowledge" required for open-ended activities in subjects like science and mathematics.
- Leaders must improve the teaching of encoding skills within phonics lessons, as "early letter formation" is not yet meeting expectations.
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 | 50% |
| 2023/24 | 52% |
| 2024/25 | 65% |
| 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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