Collierley Nursery and Primary School, Stanley

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Collierley Nursery and Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, typically achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils attend school well, including those with special educational needs and/or abilities and those who are disadvantaged."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have carefully considered how to develop a curriculum that is tailored to the school's context."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have prioritised the development of the provision in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created an inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders show determination to develop all aspects of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders deeply care about pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further embed new systems to ensure pupils in all year groups who have gaps in foundational knowledge, for example letter formation, use of capital letters and spelling, are identified to ensure that support can be provided to benefit their work across all subjects"; "Leaders should build on the recent developments in the key stage 1 curriculum in English, so that standards of writing across the school and across the breadth of the curriculum improve further"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils who are disadvantaged, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are more closely monitored in their uptake of wider opportunities to ensure access to these is maximised".

In its own words: "At Collierley Nursery and Primary School we believe that the ethos of the school is central to establishing, achieving and maintaining high standards in all areas. We are very much an outdoor and active school where we aim to provide a safe, caring environment."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Its purpose is to give you a flavour of daily life at Collierley, keep you informed of upcoming events and share with you the highlights of past events. Our aims are simple: We want all children to have the best possible start in life."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, multi-sports, choir, cooking, gardening and art.

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Collierley Nursery and Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 72% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 43% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Collierley Nursery and Primary School as their first choice and 25 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Collierley Nursery and Primary School are St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton (0.5 miles, 78% reading, 87% maths); Catchgate Primary School (1.2 miles, 60% reading, 60% maths); Annfield Plain Junior School (1.7 miles, 67% reading, 60% maths); and Annfield Plain Infant School (1.7 miles).

Collierley Nursery and Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Collierley Nursery and Primary School is one of 11 schools run by Stanley Learning Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

34% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Collierley Nursery and Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Collierley Nursery and Primary School.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Collierley School (sw-bound), 30 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Collierley Nursery and Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 29 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).

Collierley Nursery and Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.