South Hetton Primary, Durham
South Hetton Primary is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Durham, part of Tudhoe Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 35th-highest of the 43 schools in Durham with published results, and 11,173rd of 14,452 across England. It was 86% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- 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
South Hetton Primary in detail
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at South Hetton Primary reached the expected standard in reading and 65% 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 69% in reading and 57% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at South Hetton Primary
For September 2026 entry, 21 families put South Hetton Primary as their first choice and 29 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 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 South Hetton Primary are Easington Lane Primary School (1 mile, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton (1.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 75% maths); Ribbon School (1.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 78% maths); and Hetton Lyons Primary School (2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 85% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than South Hetton Primary.
Easington Lane Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School, MurtonRibbon SchoolHetton Lyons Primary School
The trust
South Hetton Primary is one of 7 schools run by Tudhoe Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 51% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
36.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 44 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 6 (3%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Seaham Rail Station, about 3.8 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Health Centre (e-bound), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood South Hetton Primary stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 42 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson, anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, South Hetton Primary issued 2 suspensions, 1 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; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
36.6%
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 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 57% to 65% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 69% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.2
Avg class size
31.3
KS2
6
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with South Hetton Primary
Before and after school care
South Hetton Primary is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in County Durham
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to South Hetton Primary from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. South Hetton Primary 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
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 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 South Hetton Primary
Will you get a place at South Hetton Primary? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against South Hetton Primary's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for South Hetton Primary:
- The straight-line distance from your home to South Hetton Primary.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from County Durham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at South Hetton Primary for 2016 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
86%
Available places
170 pupils
198 places
28 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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
44
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
24.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
202
Total Pupils
98
Boys
104
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
20.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,770
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,914
Per pupil
£1136k
Total funding
£86k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
20.0%
Persistent absence
145
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about South Hetton Primary
What are SATs results like at South Hetton Primary?
Of the pupils at South Hetton Primary who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 65% did so in maths.
What is South Hetton Primary's Ofsted rating?
South Hetton Primary was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023.
What is the catchment area for South Hetton Primary?
No fixed boundary. When South Hetton Primary 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 South Hetton Primary?
South Hetton Primary was not full in 2025: it ran at 86% of its 198 places.
How big are the classes at South Hetton Primary?
Classes at South Hetton Primary average 28.2 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to South Hetton Primary?
South Hetton Primary has around 202 pupils on roll. 37% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at South Hetton Primary?
6% of sessions were missed at South Hetton Primary in 2024/25. 20% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to South Hetton Primary?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming South Hetton Primary 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.
Does South Hetton Primary have a breakfast club or after-school club?
South Hetton Primary is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near South Hetton Primary?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 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 South Hetton Primary?
South Hetton Primary is at Frederick Terrace, South Hetton, Durham, DH6 2TJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)