Best Schools in Shildon

How many schools are there in Shildon?

Shildon has 3 open schools.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Which schools in Shildon are rated Outstanding?

1 school in Shildon was rated Outstanding at its most recent graded Ofsted inspection: Thornhill Primary School. Counting Good as well, 100% of the 3 graded schools here are rated Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

Thornhill Primary School

Source: Ofsted

Which primary schools in Shildon have the best SATs results?

Of the 3 primary schools in Shildon with 2025 Key Stage 2 results, the highest shares of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and maths were at Thornhill Primary School (97% in reading, 100% in maths); St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon (77% in reading, 77% in maths); and Timothy Hackworth Primary School (61% in reading, 72% in maths). Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

Thornhill Primary SchoolSt John's Church of England Aided Primary School, ShildonTimothy Hackworth Primary School

Source: DfE school performance data

Do schools in Shildon have catchment areas?

Most state schools in Shildon have no fixed catchment boundary. When a school is oversubscribed, County Durham allocates places on its published criteria - usually looked-after children first, then siblings, then home-to-school distance - so the practical cut-off moves each year. Each school's page here shows an estimate of its catchment radius.

How do I apply for a school place in Shildon?

Apply to County Durham through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.