Middlestone Moor Academy, Durham

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 211

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~778m)Possible (~1.1km)Unlikely (~1.4km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Miss Gemma Richardson
Pupils:265 / 278 capacity
LA:County Durham
Phone:01388816351
Address:Rock Road, Durham, DL16 7DA
Trust:ADVANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 January 2023

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:149505
UKPRN:10091664
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This school truly puts pupils' wellbeing first and knows each child as an individual. Teachers create a calm, happy environment where pupils behave beautifully and support each other, and they work hard to ensure every child - including those facing challenges - can succeed. The school offers exciting enrichment activities and trips to broaden horizons, making sure no pupil misses out.

Key Strengths

  • Strong pastoral support and personal development - staff know pupils well and swiftly identify those needing help
  • Key stage 2 pupils achieve well with good progress from their starting points
  • Excellent behaviour and attendance - calm, happy school with pupils showing positive attitudes and respect
  • Well-designed, ambitious curriculum that is carefully sequenced across year groups
  • Inclusive approach with high expectations for all pupils, including those with special needs or disadvantage

Areas for Improvement

  • Early years curriculum not sufficiently well taught - children not developing communication and phonics skills as well as they could
  • Key stage 1 teaching inconsistent - some pupils do not settle quickly and reading accuracy development needs work
  • Staff in early years and key stage 1 need better training to consistently support pupils with barriers to learning

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Residential trips, visits to places of learning, wide range of clubs

Middlestone Moor Academy is a school where pupils are happy and safe, with leaders showing deep understanding of each child and placing wellbeing at the centre of everything they do. The school has particular strengths in personal development and key stage 2 achievement, though early years provision needs improvement.

At a Glance

41.1%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+4ppMaths+11ppWriting+7pp

Reading has improved from 71% to 75%. Maths has improved from 68% to 79%. Writing has improved from 68% to 75%.

Class Sizes

26.7

Avg class size

27.0

KS2

9

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Beech Avenue (SW-bound)
113m · 2 min walk
Central Drive - Rock Road (NE-bound)
117m · 2 min walk
Rock Road School (NW-bound)
144m · 2 min walk
West Terrace (SE-bound)
207m · 3 min walk
Beech Avenue - Ash Grove (NE-bound)
241m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

95%

Near capacity

265 pupils

278 capacity

13 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Durham

Low pressure
New homes approved:1,533
Projected new pupils:383

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Durham

Admissions Demand - County Durham

Low demand0.68x oversubscription

Places available

6,592

Applications

4,491

Got 1st preference

96.4%

Got preferred school

99.2%

Primary admissions across County Durham (2025/26)

Inspection History(12)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.27031%

Overall absence

14.91228%

Persistent absence

228

Enrolments

Authorised3.43293%
Unauthorised1.83738%
Persistent (10%+)14.91228%
Severe (50%+)1.31579%

Absence trend

8.09737%
22/23
6.95252%
23/24
5.27031%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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