Sherburn Primary School, Durham
Sherburn Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Durham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 29th-highest of the 43 schools in Durham with published results, and 9,982nd of 14,452 across England. It was 70% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sherburn Primary School in detail
Sherburn Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £3.00 per day.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Sherburn Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% 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 87% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Sherburn Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Sherburn Primary School as their first choice and 26 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Sherburn Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sherburn Primary School are St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont (0.9 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths); Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School (1 mile, Good, 94% reading, 91% maths); Pittington Primary School (1 mile, Good, 81% reading, 73% maths); and Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 82% reading, 89% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Sherburn Primary School.
St Thomas More Primary School, BelmontBelmont Cheveley Park Primary SchoolPittington Primary SchoolBelmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School
What parents say
35 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sherburn Primary School (as of September 2025): 74% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Who goes there
3.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 59 pupils (33.5%) received SEN support and 3 (1.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Sherburn Primary School.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park House (s-bound), 210 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 45 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sherburn Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Sherburn Primary School creates a calm, caring learning environment where pupils thrive. The school places strong emphasis on reading and provides excellent support for all learners, including those with additional needs. Children benefit from rich educational experiences beyond the classroom, such as beach visits and residential trips, that help develop their independence and teamwork skills.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with trained staff supporting phonics development and tailored interventions for struggling readers
- Pupils with SEND are well supported with meaningful adaptations helping them access the ambitious curriculum
- Rich experiences beyond the curriculum including beach visits for younger pupils and residential trips for Year 5-6
- Effective early years transition arrangements helping children settle quickly and develop key skills
- Strong caring ethos valued by parents, with staff feeling valued and supported
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, pupils do not get sufficient opportunities to review and practise what they have learned, meaning knowledge is less secure than in other subjects
- Absence rates for some pupils remain too high, causing them to miss valuable learning opportunities
- Need to further develop attendance strategy and work more closely with parents to improve attendance
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Beach visits for early years and key stage 1, residential visits for Year 5-6, outdoor stage for performances, playground dens, visits from professionals including NHS and police
Sherburn Primary School has maintained its good standards since the previous inspection. Pupils enjoy attending this caring school where they achieve well and benefit from high expectations for their behaviour and learning.
At a Glance
29.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
35 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 87% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 80% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 80% to 68% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.7
Avg class size
22.0
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Sherburn Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sherburn Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sherburn Primary 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
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
5 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 Sherburn Primary School
Will you get a place at Sherburn Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sherburn Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sherburn Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sherburn Primary 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 Sherburn Primary 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
70%
Available places
164 pupils
233 places
69 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Durham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Durham
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(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
59
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
35.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
176
Total Pupils
89
Boys
87
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
25.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,362
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,073
Per pupil
£1113k
Total funding
£82k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
19.3%
Persistent absence
145
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
Sherburn Primary School
Questions parents ask about Sherburn Primary School
What are SATs results like at Sherburn Primary School?
Of the pupils at Sherburn Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 71% did so in maths.
What is Sherburn Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sherburn Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Sherburn Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Sherburn Primary 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 Sherburn Primary School?
Sherburn Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 70% of its 233 places.
How big are the classes at Sherburn Primary School?
Classes at Sherburn Primary School average 26.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Sherburn Primary School?
Sherburn Primary School has around 176 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sherburn Primary School?
5.9% of sessions were missed at Sherburn Primary School in 2024/25. 19.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sherburn Primary School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Sherburn Primary 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 Sherburn Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 5 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 Sherburn Primary School?
Sherburn Primary School is at Cookshold Lane, Sherburn Village, Durham, County Durham, DH6 1DU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)