SchoolScoresDean Bank Primary and Nursery School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Dean Bank, Ferryhill, DL17 8PP
01740 651512 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 22 May 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
45 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
County Durham comparisons use the 18 of its 208 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 190 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 80% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 89% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 85% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 89% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 71% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 84% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 13 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 95% of 329 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 41% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 36 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 79% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 77% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 79% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 27%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. County Durham figures pool parents at the County Durham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
25 pupils in this year group.
52% — 10 points below the County Durham average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 52% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 60% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 60% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 56% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 99 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in County Durham. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 17 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 16 |
| Of those, offered a place | 16 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 28 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 73.5% | 35.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.8% | 18.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.4% | 5.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 21.7% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.7 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 22% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.8% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 67% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.0 | 20.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 10% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.0 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 79% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 22.7% | 13.1%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Broom Cottages Primary and Nursery School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ferryhill Station Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 20% met expected standard (KS2)
- North Park Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kirk Merrington Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Charles' Catholic Primary School, Tudhoe 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Springmoor Grange School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- King Street Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Cornforth Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chilton Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 May 2024.
How did Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 52% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School?
98% of the 45 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School as their first choice for 17 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 16 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 114086.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.