Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School, Durham

Ofsted's report card from its 28 January 2026 inspection grades Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils want to come to school."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils progress well through the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have overseen improvements to the curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff have developed an effective curriculum for early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "This is an inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed an effective and motivated team in the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a coherent, relevant and appropriate programme for personal, social and health education across the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Governors should ensure that they use their expertise to challenge leaders consistently and robustly across all aspects of the school's work, gathering sufficiently detailed information on school performance from as wide a range of sources as possible. • Leaders should use assessment information robustly to understand how well pupils learn what is intended and therefore where the curriculum and teaching should be adapted".

In its own words: "At Belmont Church of England Primary School, our vision is for everyone in our Belmont family to flourish and to learn how to live well together, with dignity and respect. Inspired by the story of Noah's Ark, our vision is brought to life through three key symbols: the rainbow, the ark and the dove."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include gardening and eco club.

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 89% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (84% in reading, 84% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School as their first choice and 68 named it as one of their preferences, for 33 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School are St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont (0.2 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths); Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 94% reading, 91% maths); St Hild's College Church of England Primary School, Durham (0.8 miles); and Durham Gilesgate Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 58% reading, 58% maths).

Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School (as of April 2026): 78% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

15.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 37 pupils (14.2%) received SEN support and 1 (0.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Durham Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.

22 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Links - Shops (s-bound), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.