St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon, Bishop Auckland

In its own words: "It is my pleasure to welcome you to St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School where we are respectful, responsible, compassionate and safe individuals. At St. Joseph's, we strive to create a happy, inclusive environment where every child is valued, loved and encouraged to reach their fullest potential."

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am.

In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (90% in reading, 80% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 10 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon as their first choice and 15 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon are Victoria Lane Academy (under 0.1 miles, Good, 73% reading, 65% maths); Prince Bishops Community Primary School (1.3 miles); Kirk Merrington Primary School (1.5 miles, Outstanding, 94% reading, 89% maths); and St Andrew's Academy (1.9 miles, 65% reading, 77% maths).

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon is one of 35 schools run by Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

46% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Bishop Auckland Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Victoria Lane (n-bound), 30 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon 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 45 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, burglary and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).

In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon issued 5 suspensions, 4.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.