St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor
Stanley, DH9 6PH · County Durham · primary school
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156th 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 — 1.9/10 against 1,561 of them, against 1.8/10 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 | 22.0 · 1 | 40% | 0.05 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 6.0 · 45 | 25% | 1.12 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 22.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 6.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2024. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 75 pupils against a stated capacity of 105. 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
With 22.0% meeting expected standards, what specific support is available for pupils who need to close the gap in literacy? How does the school structure its curriculum to ensure progress across all year groups? What does a typical day look like for a child in the early years?
What Ofsted said about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor
Overview
St Mary’s is described as a “welcoming and friendly school” where pupils are happy and relationships are warm. Leaders have taken “rapid, effective action” to raise expectations and implement a new, ambitious curriculum, resulting in improved progress and achievement. The school fosters a strong sense of community, with pupils demonstrating mutual respect and confidence in their learning.
Strengths
- Pupils exhibit calm behaviour and demonstrate the school rules to “be ready, respectful and safe”.
- Staff deliver “consistent and effective phonics teaching”, helping pupils gain the skills to read well.
- The school identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well and uses precise assessments to identify barriers to learning.
- Early years provision is strong, with children getting off to a “flying start” and benefiting from targeted language development strategies.
- Pupils speak with confidence about staying safe online and show respect towards different families and communities.
Areas to improve
- The ambitious curriculum plans are not fully embedded in all subjects, leaving some older pupils with gaps in subject knowledge.
- Some learning activities are not adapted well enough for pupils with SEND, preventing them from fully meeting curriculum ambitions.
- Some pupils do not attend school regularly enough, causing them to miss vital learning and fall behind their classmates.
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 | 32% |
| 2023/24 | 47% |
| 2024/25 | 22% |
| 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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