Cestria Primary School, Chester le Street
Cestria 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 December 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 16 schools in Chester le Street with published results, and 2,629th of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
Cestria Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 95% of Year 6 pupils at Cestria Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 93% in reading and 93% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Cestria Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 60 families put Cestria Primary School as their first choice and 133 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 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 Cestria Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Cestria Primary School are St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street (0.2 miles, Good, 80% reading, 83% maths); Newker Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 78% maths); Red Rose Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 91% maths); and Bullion Lane Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 94% reading, 94% maths).
Cestria Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-StreetNewker Primary SchoolRed Rose Primary SchoolBullion Lane Primary School
What parents say
129 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cestria Primary School (as of September 2025): 98% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 89% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (89%).
Who goes there
13.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 48 pupils (11.3%) received SEN support and 5 (1.2%) 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 Station Road, about 370 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Chare schools (e-bound), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 242 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
Cestria Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Cestria Primary School are Park View School (under 0.1 miles) and Hermitage Academy (0.9 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cestria Primary School is a nurturing, inclusive environment where pupils are valued and encouraged to develop their talents and potential. Teachers explain concepts clearly and help pupils achieve highly, particularly in reading and mathematics. The school goes above and beyond with strong pastoral care and support, with parents praising staff for going the extra mile.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve very highly in national tests, particularly in key stage 2, and disadvantaged pupils perform very well
- Strong focus on reading with effective phonics teaching and pupils reading accurately and fluently
- Excellent behavior and attitudes to learning, with kind, respectful pupils and impeccable conduct
- Effective provision for pupils with SEND who achieve very well
- Range of enrichment opportunities including clubs, leadership roles, and residential visits
Areas for Improvement
- Occasional inconsistencies in how teachers check pupils' understanding and identify misconceptions or gaps in knowledge
- Need to ensure teachers systematically check pupils' knowledge to consistently identify and fill gaps
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong culture prioritizing pupils' interests and well-being.
Extracurricular Activities
Performing arts clubs, sports clubs, crafts clubs, leadership roles (eco-warriors, mini-medics, mini-police, culture champions), adventure-based residential visits, interactive reading assemblies, breakfast club
Cestria Primary School has maintained its good standards since the previous inspection. The school is inclusive, with warm relationships between staff and pupils, high expectations, and a stimulating curriculum that helps pupils achieve well.
At a Glance
13.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
129 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 95% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 93% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
14
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Cestria Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Cestria Primary School.
- Kip McGrath Chester le Street470m away · Not yet graded
- First Class Learning Chester Le Street590m away · Not yet graded
- Mains House @ Red Rose660m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cestria Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cestria 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
- 21
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 17 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 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 Cestria Primary School
Will you get a place at Cestria Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Cestria Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Cestria Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Cestria 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 Cestria 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
394 pupils
420 places
26 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)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
48
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
12.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
426
Total Pupils
218
Boys
208
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,340
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,038
Per pupil
£2186k
Total funding
£95k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.0%
Overall absence
4.2%
Persistent absence
353
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
Cestria Primary School
Questions parents ask about Cestria Primary School
What are SATs results like at Cestria Primary School?
Of the pupils at Cestria Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 95% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is Cestria Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Cestria Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cestria Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Cestria 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 Cestria Primary School?
Cestria Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Cestria Primary School?
Classes at Cestria Primary School average 28.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Cestria Primary School?
Cestria Primary School has around 426 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Cestria Primary School?
3% of sessions were missed at Cestria Primary School in 2024/25. 4.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cestria Primary School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Cestria 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 Cestria Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Cestria Primary School: Kip McGrath Chester le Street (470m away, registered, not yet graded), First Class Learning Chester Le Street (590m away, registered, not yet graded) and Mains House @ Red Rose (660m 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 Cestria Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 17 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 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 Cestria Primary School?
Cestria Primary School is at Church Chare, Chester le Street, County Durham, DH3 3PZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)