Sacriston Academy, Durham

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Sacriston Academy on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Attendance shows an upward trend across all groups."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that the curriculum is well designed and carefully sequenced to ensure pupils build knowledge securely over time."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children make a strong start to their school life at Sacriston Academy."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have a secure and detailed understanding of the needs of pupils with disadvantage and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance have a clear and accurate understanding of the school's improvement priorities."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders are deeply ambitious for pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well at Sacriston Academy."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their work to ensure that the positive outcomes seen in 2025 are sustained over time"; "Leaders should continue their work to support and challenge parents and carers to collaborate with school to ensure their children attend well".

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Sacriston Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 74% in reading and 74% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Sacriston Academy as their first choice and 38 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Sacriston Academy are St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston (0.4 miles, Good, 89% reading, 89% maths); Witton Gilbert Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 63% maths); Nettlesworth Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and Edmondsley Primary Academy (1.5 miles, 54% reading, 42% maths).

Sacriston Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Sacriston Academy is one of 15 schools run by North East Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 73% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

42.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 49 pupils (25.8%) received SEN support and 3 (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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Durham Rail Station, about 3.1 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mafeking Terrace (ne-bound), 80 metres away.

In 2024/25, Sacriston Academy issued 12 suspensions, 6.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.