SchoolScoresFinchale Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Canterbury Road, Newton Hall, Durham, DH1 5XT
0191 386 5187 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 January 2015.
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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 May 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
59 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Durham comparisons use the 25 of its 44 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 19 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 | Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 7th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Durham. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 12th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Durham. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 6th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Durham. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 5th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Durham. Higher than 72% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 55% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 41 parents who had raised a concern 12th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Durham. Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 82% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Durham. Higher than 83% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 79% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 5th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Durham. Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 28%). 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. Durham figures pool parents at the 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
32 pupils in this year group.
78% — 16 points above the County Durham average, and 16 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 78% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 19% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 91% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 81% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 84% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 29 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 72 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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 42nd highest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Higher than 2% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 35.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 41st highest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 37th highest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.3% | 18.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 11th highest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.9% | 5.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Lower than 99% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Higher than 95% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.1 | 20.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 3rd highest of 44 state primary schools in Durham. Higher than 97% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 15.7 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 14th highest of 41 state primary schools in Durham. Higher than 66% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 17.4% | 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
- Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Durham Newton Hall Infants' School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2021) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Framwellgate Moor Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Durham Gilesgate Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Hild's College CofE Primary School, Durham 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 100% met expected standard (KS2)
- Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Laurel Avenue Community Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Finchale Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Finchale Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 January 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 May 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Finchale Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 16 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Finchale Primary School?
97% of the 59 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Finchale Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Finchale Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 29 families put Finchale Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 29 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 130312.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.