Ouston Primary School, Chester le Street

Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~810m)Possible (~1.2km)Unlikely (~1.5km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs L Lavelle
Pupils:259 / 280 capacity
LA:County Durham
Phone:01914102599
Address:Arisaig, Ouston, Chester le Street, DH2 1RQ
Trust:JIGSAW LEARNING TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 February 2018

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 2 June 2026View full report
URN:144658
UKPRN:10065314
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:North Durham
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Ouston Primary School excels at supporting every child, particularly those who need extra help. The 'learning lab' provides expert support for pupils with special educational needs, and the school works brilliantly with parents and carers to ensure all children thrive. With excellent attendance rates, calm, happy classrooms and exciting ways of learning - including animation and game design - pupils develop strong skills in reading, writing and maths.

Key Strengths

  • Exceptional support for vulnerable pupils including those with SEND and children in care through the 'learning lab' and tailored provision
  • Attendance is notably above the national average, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Strong inclusion culture with passionate leadership and effective partnerships with parents and outside agencies
  • Well-behaved, respectful pupils in calm, happy classrooms with positive relationships between staff and pupils
  • High-quality curriculum delivery with innovative approaches using animation, photography and game design

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils sometimes need more time to engage with tasks and deepen their understanding
  • Pupils' knowledge of different religions and cultures needs strengthening, despite the 'one Britain' theme
  • Some inconsistency in the impact of the personal development programme on pupils' understanding of diversity

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open culture of safeguarding where all staff take responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Swimming, school fun run, art and craft club, theatre visits, rock and pop, choir at cathedral, harvest performances, residential trips with rock climbing and raft building, school council, waste warriors, sports leaders, play leaders, careers week, Friday fundraisers

Ouston Primary School is a welcoming school where all pupils are cared for and supported well. The school has particular strengths in supporting vulnerable pupils, including those with special educational needs and those in care.

At a Glance

14.7%

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-9ppMaths-20ppWriting-14pp

Reading has declined from 82% to 73%. Maths has declined from 82% to 62%. Writing has declined from 76% to 62%.

Class Sizes

26.6

Avg class size

22.0

Infant (KS1)

31.5

KS2

8

Total classes

2 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Penhill Close (E-bound)
337m · 5 min walk
Red Lion (N-bound)
382m · 6 min walk
Council Houses (S-bound)
390m · 6 min walk
Wensley Close (SE-bound)
501m · 8 min walk
Atholl (S-bound)
566m · 9 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

93%

Near capacity

259 pupils

280 capacity

21 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Chester le Street

Low pressure
New homes approved:452
Projected new pupils:113

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chester le Street

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(4)

2 June 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
11 May 2022
6 February 2018

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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

4.51314%

Overall absence

8.16327%

Persistent absence

196

Enrolments

Authorised3.1391%
Unauthorised1.37404%
Persistent (10%+)8.16327%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.61404%
18/19
2.87738%
20/21
6.37038%
21/22
5.07807%
22/23
4.58407%
23/24
4.51314%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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