Bullion Lane Primary School, Chester le Street
Bullion Lane Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Chester le Street. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 16 schools in Chester le Street with published results, and 637th of 14,452 across England. It was 71% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Bullion Lane Primary School in detail
Bullion Lane Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, athletics and cross-country.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at Bullion Lane Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 94% 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 (92% in reading, 92% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bullion Lane Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Bullion Lane Primary School as their first choice and 35 named it as one of their preferences, for 27 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bullion Lane Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bullion Lane Primary School are Newker Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 83% reading, 78% maths); Cestria Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 95% reading, 79% maths); St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street (0.6 miles, Good, 80% reading, 83% maths); and Red Rose Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 88% reading, 91% maths).
Bullion Lane Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Newker Primary SchoolCestria Primary SchoolSt Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-StreetRed Rose Primary School
Who goes there
67.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 68 pupils (23.3%) received SEN support and 7 (2.4%) 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 moderate learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bullion Lane, about 390 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bullion Lane - Schools (ne-bound), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bullion Lane Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 251 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bullion Lane Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bullion Lane Primary School are Hermitage Academy (0.4 miles) and Park View School (0.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
67.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 94% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 94% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 94% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.6
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
26.6
KS2
12
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bullion Lane Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bullion Lane Primary School.
- First Class Learning Chester Le Street230m away · Not yet graded
- Kip McGrath Chester le Street780m away · Not yet graded
- Mains House @ Red Rose930m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bullion Lane Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bullion Lane Primary School is in County Durham; for families living there:
- County Durham's school travel policy: School transport policies and strategies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school travel
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bullion Lane Primary School
Will you get a place at Bullion Lane Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bullion Lane Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bullion Lane Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bullion Lane Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from County Durham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bullion Lane Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in County Durham got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
71%
Available places
238 pupils
336 places
98 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Chester le Street
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chester le Street
Across County Durham council
Places available
6,581
Applications
4,409
Got 1st preference
97.3%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across County Durham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
68
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
25.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
292
Total Pupils
147
Boys
145
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
24.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,409
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,503
Per pupil
£1941k
Total funding
£250k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
18.3%
Persistent absence
218
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Bullion Lane Primary School
Questions parents ask about Bullion Lane Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bullion Lane Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bullion Lane Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 94% did so in maths.
What is Bullion Lane Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bullion Lane Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024.
What is the catchment area for Bullion Lane Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bullion Lane Primary School is oversubscribed, County Durham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bullion Lane Primary School?
Bullion Lane Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 71% of its 336 places.
How big are the classes at Bullion Lane Primary School?
Classes at Bullion Lane Primary School average 22.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bullion Lane Primary School?
Bullion Lane Primary School has around 292 pupils on roll. 68% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bullion Lane Primary School?
6% of sessions were missed at Bullion Lane Primary School in 2024/25. 18.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bullion Lane Primary School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Bullion Lane Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Bullion Lane Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Bullion Lane Primary School: First Class Learning Chester Le Street (230m away, registered, not yet graded), Kip McGrath Chester le Street (780m away, registered, not yet graded) and Mains House @ Red Rose (930m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Bullion Lane Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bullion Lane Primary School?
Bullion Lane Primary School is at Bullion Lane, Chester le Street, County Durham, DH2 2DP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)