Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington, Crook

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a mainstream school with a nursery provision which is part of the wider family of schools within the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust. 'Pupils love coming to this friendly and inclusive school. They enjoy their lessons."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include multi-sports, gardening, book club and forest school.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 5:15pm.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington reached the expected standard in reading and 83% 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 (94% in reading, 75% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington as their first choice and 27 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington are Willington Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 76% reading, 60% maths); St Stephen's Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 84% maths); Sunnybrow Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 50% reading, 50% maths); and St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook (1.7 miles, 86% reading, 79% maths).

Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington is one of 35 schools run by Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

11.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Asian (6%).

In 2026, 30 pupils (24.6%) received SEN support and 2 (1.6%) 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.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hunwick Lane End (se-bound), 40 metres away.

In 2024/25, Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington issued 1 suspension, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.