Blackhall Primary School

About Blackhall Primary School

Blackhall Primary School’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit below the County Durham average, with 56% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined against a local authority average of 62%. That six-point gap places the school in the bottom half of primary schools in the area, ranked 111th out of 208. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. Maths is a clear strength: 83% of pupils met the expected standard and 31% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 105. Reading is close behind at 78% expected, though only 19% hit the higher threshold. Writing is the weakest area, with 61% at expected and just 6% at the higher level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across every category, including behaviour, leadership and early years provision — a consistent improvement from its previous Good rating in 2012.

The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available in the data, but the raw attainment figures give a clear sense of where pupils tend to land. The maths average score of 105 is solidly above the national baseline of 100, while reading at 103 is also above that mark. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is high at 47.3%, which is worth noting when interpreting the results — the school is working with a cohort that faces above-average disadvantage. In its most recent inspection, Ofsted noted that behaviour and attitudes are Good, and personal development is also Good. The early years provision was rated Good as well, which matters for a school that takes children from age two. The school has a nursery provision on site, so families with very young children can start their journey here before moving into Reception.

Blackhall Primary is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 28 applications for 19 places, with all 19 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.47, meaning the school is popular locally but not impossible to get into if you live nearby. Facilities include a dining hall, music rooms, an ICT suite, an outdoor playground and a chapel. Sports provision covers dance, football, cricket, gymnastics, cross country and swimming, while after-school clubs range from science and coding to film, art and book club. The school’s SEND provisions are well-documented, supporting conditions including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language issues, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a solid, well-regarded local primary that delivers good maths outcomes and a broad range of activities, particularly suited to families who value a strong pastoral and SEND framework.

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