St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton, Seaham
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Seaham. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 9 schools in Seaham with published results, and 5,071st of 14,452 across England. It was 67% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton in detail
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, Lego, art and French.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton 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 (76% in reading, 92% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton
For September 2026 entry, 7 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton as their first choice and 25 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 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 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton are Ribbon School (0.3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 78% maths); South Hetton Primary (1.4 miles, Good, 70% reading, 65% maths); Easington Lane Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths); and Seaview Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 73% reading, 80% maths).
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Ribbon SchoolSouth Hetton PrimaryEasington Lane Primary SchoolSeaview Primary School
Who goes there
11% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Asian (6%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (11.8%) received SEN support and 1 (0.8%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Seaham Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Knaresborough Road (w-bound), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 131 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
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from July 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
17.3%
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 improved from 76% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 92% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.4
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
26.0
KS2
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton 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
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 9 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
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 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from County Durham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton 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
67%
Available places
140 pupils
210 places
70 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(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
12.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
127
Total Pupils
57
Boys
70
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
21.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,345
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,895
Per pupil
£923k
Total funding
£41k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.2%
Overall absence
5.8%
Persistent absence
138
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton 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 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton was not full in 2025: it ran at 67% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
Classes at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton average 25.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton has around 127 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
3.2% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton in 2024/25. 5.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton 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 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 9 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 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 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton is at Church Lane, Murton, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 9RD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)