Kirk Merrington Primary School, Spennymoor
Kirk Merrington Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Spennymoor. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 8 schools in Spennymoor with published results, and 1,154th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.4 first-choice applications for every place. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kirk Merrington Primary School in detail
Kirk Merrington Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football and netball.
The school runs after-school care until 4:15pm.
Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at Kirk Merrington 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 rose from 94% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Kirk Merrington Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 36 families put Kirk Merrington Primary School as their first choice and 91 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 12 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Kirk Merrington Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Kirk Merrington Primary School are Middlestone Moor Academy (1.4 miles, 75% reading, 79% maths); Victoria Lane Academy (1.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 65% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, 90% reading, 75% maths); and Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School (1.7 miles, Requires improvement, 60% reading, 56% maths).
Kirk Merrington Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Middlestone Moor AcademyVictoria Lane AcademySt Joseph's Catholic Primary School, CoundonDean Bank Primary and Nursery School
Who goes there
11.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Kirk Merrington Primary School.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Schools (se-bound), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 15 crimes within a mile of the school, most often vehicle crime, violence and sexual offences and bicycle theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).
Suspensions and exclusions
Kirk Merrington Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Kirk Merrington Primary School are Ferryhill School (1 mile), Aycliffe Secure Centre (1.3 miles) and Whitworth Park Academy (1.6 miles).
Ferryhill SchoolAycliffe Secure CentreWhitworth Park Academy
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
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
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 Outstanding at its March 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
11.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
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 improved from 82% to 89% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 71% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.5
Avg class size
26.0
Infant (KS1)
25.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Kirk Merrington Primary School
Harvest 9th Oct
14 Sep 2026
School photos 20th Oct
14 Sep 2026
Flu nasal spray 21st Sept
14 Sep 2026
Reception Stay and Play 22nd Oct
14 Sep 2026
Last day of term Fri 17th Jul
10 Jul 2026
First day of term Wed 2nd Sept
10 Jul 2026
From Kirk Merrington Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Kirk Merrington Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kirk Merrington Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kirk Merrington 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
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Kirk Merrington Primary School
Will you get a place at Kirk Merrington Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Kirk Merrington Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Kirk Merrington Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Kirk Merrington 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 Kirk Merrington 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
99%
Near capacity
173 pupils
175 places
2 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Spennymoor
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Spennymoor
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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
28
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
19.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
180
Total Pupils
84
Boys
96
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
20.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,208
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,494
Per pupil
£1026k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.3%
Overall absence
3.4%
Persistent absence
149
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
Kirk Merrington Primary School
Questions parents ask about Kirk Merrington Primary School
What are SATs results like at Kirk Merrington Primary School?
Of the pupils at Kirk Merrington Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 89% did so in maths.
What is Kirk Merrington Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Kirk Merrington Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024.
What is the catchment area for Kirk Merrington Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Kirk Merrington 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 Kirk Merrington Primary School?
Kirk Merrington Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Kirk Merrington Primary School?
Classes at Kirk Merrington Primary School average 25.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Kirk Merrington Primary School?
Kirk Merrington Primary School has around 180 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Kirk Merrington Primary School?
3.3% of sessions were missed at Kirk Merrington Primary School in 2024/25. 3.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kirk Merrington Primary School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Kirk Merrington 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.
How many road collisions happen near Kirk Merrington Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Kirk Merrington Primary School?
Kirk Merrington Primary School is at South View, Kirk Merrington, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 7JB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)