Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor, Durham
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is a happy, welcoming school where children feel secure and included. The school excels at supporting all learners, especially those who face barriers to learning, ensuring they progress well and feel they belong. Staff provide caring, nurturing relationships and thoughtfully plan enrichment experiences like trips and clubs to broaden every child's horizons.
Key Strengths
- Strong emphasis on reading and phonics, with pupils learning to read quickly and receiving well-considered support when needed
- Inclusive approach to education with tailored support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities through provisions like the 'Lighthouse' class
- Very positive behaviour and respectful relationships throughout the school, with bullying being very rare
- Effective pastoral support and wellbeing programme that helps all pupils, especially disadvantaged pupils and those with vulnerabilities, feel they belong
- Wide range of enrichment activities including trips, after-school clubs in arts, cooking and sport, and opportunities for pupils to take on leadership roles
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils could achieve more by the end of key stage 2 - this is being addressed through a clear improvement plan
- Variability in how well teachers assess when pupils are ready to move to the next stage of learning, meaning some pupils do not always get opportunities to progress further
- Consistency needed in early years practice, with leaders continuing to strengthen provision to ensure all children experience high-quality interactions
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders and governors fulfilling their responsibilities and creating an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
After-school clubs in arts, cooking and sport, trips to local geography sites in Durham and London, sporting activities and opportunities during the school day, active outdoor play
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a welcoming, inclusive Catholic primary school that has made considerable improvements over recent years. Leaders are ambitious for pupils to achieve well, and the school provides strong pastoral support with effective safeguarding practices in place.
At a Glance
27.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 70%. Maths has improved from 64% to 70%. Writing has remained stable at around 70%.
Class Sizes
8.0
Avg class size
8.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
98 pupils
105 capacity
7 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Durham
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Durham
Admissions Demand - County Durham
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(103)
House Prices
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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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.56134%
Overall absence
20.51282%
Persistent absence
39
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor
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