SchoolScoresWest Cornforth Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
High Street, West Cornforth, Ferryhill, DL17 9HP
01740 654315 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 16 September 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Ferryhill comparisons use the 3 of its 7 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 4 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 | Ferryhill | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ferryhill. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 92% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ferryhill. Higher than 2% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ferryhill. Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 87% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ferryhill. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73%said yes | 81% | 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. Ferryhill figures pool parents at the Ferryhill 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
24 pupils in this year group.
83% — 21 points above the County Durham average, and 21 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 83% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 17% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 92% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 88% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 | 23 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 35 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 Joint 3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 50.0% | 35.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.5% | 18.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.4% | 5.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.2% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 34% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.5% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 10% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.1 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.40% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 51% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.7 | 20.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 25% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.3 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Ferryhill. Higher than 35% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.8% | 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
- Coxhoe Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Broom Cottages Primary and Nursery School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ferryhill Station Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 20% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bowburn Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kelloe Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cassop Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- North Park Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is West Cornforth Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 16 September 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did West Cornforth Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 21 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend West Cornforth Primary School?
73% of the 11 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend West Cornforth Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is West Cornforth Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put West Cornforth Primary School as their first choice for 23 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 23 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 114079.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 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.