Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington

Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class

Part of BISHOP HOGARTH CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST

Cumberland Terrace, Willington, Crook, DL15 0PB

01388 746336 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 November 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths50%England 62% · 2024/25
9th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 17% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils122Room for 126 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 120 in 2019, 118 in 2021, 115 in 2022, 121 in 2023, 118 in 2024, 122 in 2025, 122 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.912 for 13 places, September 2026
11th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 29% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 November 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

27 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Crook comparisons use the 8 of its 11 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 3 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.

StatementThis schoolCrookEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crook.
Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 96% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crook.
Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 96% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crook.
Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 91% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied
4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crook.
Higher than 26% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 61% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 18 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crook.
Higher than 68% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 83% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Crook.
Higher than 72% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96%said yes 90% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Crook figures pool parents at the Crook 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.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

18 pupils in this year group.

50% — 12 points below the County Durham average, and 12 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCounty DurhamEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 50% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 6% 8% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 83% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 56% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 83% 73% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 103 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 59%This school 2023/24: 69%This school 2024/25: 50% This school England 62% 2022/23 59% 2023/24 69% 2024/25 50%

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 offered13
Families who put it first12
Of those, offered a place12 (100%)
Families who listed it at all27

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.

This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in County Durham

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCounty DurhamEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
25.7% 35.1%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 70% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.1% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
13.9% 18.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
11.5% 5.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Lower than 77% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.1% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
7.7% 13.6%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Lower than 55% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.8 3.8 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
6th lowest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.8% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.04% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
8th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 41% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
19.9 20.0 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
8th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 48% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.6 10.1 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
9th highest of 11 state primary schools in Crook.
Higher than 26% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
6.3% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington's Ofsted rating?

Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2023.

How did Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 50% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington?

96% of the 27 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 12 families put Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington as their first choice for 13 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 12 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.