St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton, Stanley
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Stanley, part of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 15 schools in Stanley with published results, and 4,602nd of 14,452 across England. It was 79% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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 Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton in detail
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton reached the expected standard in reading and 87% 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 92% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton as their first choice and 21 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 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 Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton are Collierley Nursery and Primary School (0.5 miles, 78% reading, 72% maths); Catchgate Primary School (1.1 miles, 60% reading, 60% maths); Tanfield Lea Community Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 76% reading, 79% maths); and Annfield Plain Junior School (1.5 miles, 67% reading, 60% maths).
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Collierley Nursery and Primary SchoolCatchgate Primary SchoolTanfield Lea Community Primary SchoolAnnfield Plain Junior School
The trust
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton 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.
Who goes there
5.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 27 pupils (19.1%) received SEN support and 3 (2.1%) 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.
Staffing
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Patricks Church (s-bound), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton 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 46 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton 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 multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; 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 agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in May 2021. Before that, as St Patrick's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Dipton (URN 114246), it was rated Good in January 2013.
At a Glance
27.0%
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 declined from 92% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 79% to 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
17.9
Avg class size
20.0
Infant (KS1)
20.8
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
Will you get a place at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton.
- 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 Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton for 2022 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
79%
Available places
138 pupils
175 places
37 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Stanley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stanley
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
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
21.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
141
Total Pupils
62
Boys
79
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
14.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,461
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,919
Per pupil
£921k
Total funding
£50k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
10.7%
Persistent absence
121
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
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
Questions parents ask about St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
What are SATs results like at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
Of the pupils at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton's Ofsted rating?
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in May 2021. Before that, as St Patrick's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Dipton (URN 114246), it was rated Good in January 2013.
What is the catchment area for St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
No fixed boundary. When St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton 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 Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton was not full in 2025: it ran at 79% of its 175 places.
How big are the classes at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
Classes at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton average 17.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton has around 141 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
4.5% of sessions were missed at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton in 2024/25. 10.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton 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 Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton?
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton is at North Road, Dipton, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 9BB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)