Ribbon School, Seaham
Ribbon School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Seaham, part of Ribbon Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 9 schools in Seaham with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 74% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Ribbon School in detail
Ribbon School in its own words
In its own words: "Our vision of ‘Growing Together’ encompasses everything we do and offer here at Ribbon Academy for all stakeholders including; children, staff, Trustees, families and our local community. Our rich curriculum offer, enhancements and work within the village provides the opportunities and support that is required to ensure that all stakeholders continue to ‘grow’ physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care until 4:34pm.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Ribbon School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 75% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Ribbon School
For September 2026 entry, 69 families put Ribbon School as their first choice and 84 named it as one of their preferences, for 69 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ribbon School are St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton (0.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 75% maths); Seaview Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 80% maths); Westlea Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 91% maths); and South Hetton Primary (1.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 65% maths).
Ribbon School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, MurtonSeaview Primary SchoolWestlea Primary SchoolSouth Hetton Primary
The trust
Ribbon School is run by its own single-school academy trust.
Who goes there
34.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 137 pupils (26.7%) received SEN support and 10 (1.9%) 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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Seaham Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Library - School (e-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ribbon School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 133 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ribbon School issued 39 suspensions, 7.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
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
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
34.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 73% to 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.6
Avg class size
22.9
Infant (KS1)
22.4
KS2
18
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Ribbon School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ribbon School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ribbon 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
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 9 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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 Ribbon School
Will you get a place at Ribbon School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ribbon School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ribbon School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ribbon 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 Ribbon 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
74%
Available places
442 pupils
600 places
158 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Seaham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Seaham
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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
137
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
28.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
514
Total Pupils
254
Boys
260
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
19.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,901
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,456
Per pupil
£2759k
Total funding
£255k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.3%
Overall absence
13.1%
Persistent absence
388
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
Ribbon School
Questions parents ask about Ribbon School
What are SATs results like at Ribbon School?
Of the pupils at Ribbon School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is Ribbon School's Ofsted rating?
Ribbon School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023.
What is the catchment area for Ribbon School?
No fixed boundary. When Ribbon 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 Ribbon School?
Ribbon School was not full in 2025: it ran at 74% of its 600 places.
How big are the classes at Ribbon School?
Classes at Ribbon School average 22.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ribbon School?
Ribbon School has around 514 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ribbon School?
5.3% of sessions were missed at Ribbon School in 2024/25. 13.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ribbon School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Ribbon 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 Ribbon School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 9 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Ribbon School?
Ribbon School is at Barnes Road, Murton, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 9QR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)