St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village, Durham

Ofsted's report card from its 9 September 2026 inspection grades St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village on 7 areas: 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils attain well from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils attend school regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum that builds pupils' knowledge progressively from early years to Year 6."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children make a happy and purposeful start in the early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have a detailed understanding of pupils' individual needs and identify emerging barriers to learning quickly."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders know St Michael's Catholic Primary School and its community very well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders place a strong emphasis on developing pupils as confident, caring and responsible young people."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further refine assessment procedures across the wider curriculum to maximise the learning of all pupils".

In 2025, 95% of Year 6 pupils at St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village reached the expected standard in reading and 90% 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 79% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 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 St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village are Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 67% reading, 73% maths); Langley Park Primary School (1 mile, Requires improvement, 60% reading, 65% maths); Esh Winning Academy (1.7 miles, 66% reading, 66% maths); and Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery (2.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 69% maths).

St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village is one of 47 schools run by Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

13.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 25 pupils (12.3%) 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 specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hillcrest (e-bound), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 10 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).

In 2024/25, St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.