Framwellgate Moor Primary School

About Framwellgate Moor Primary School

Framwellgate Moor Primary School sits within County Durham’s state primary landscape, where it ranks 14th out of 170 schools on the key stage 2 expected standard measure — comfortably inside the top ten per cent of its local authority. That puts it in strong company: the three top-performing peers in the area are Montalbo Nursery & Primary School, Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School, and Cestria Primary School, all of which score slightly higher on the same metric. The school is one of only eight primary schools in County Durham currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a distinction it has held consistently across its two most recent graded inspections. Headteacher Bethan Smith leads a mixed, non-denominational school that serves 389 pupils from ages two to eleven, operating just one place shy of its full capacity of 390. With a nursery on site and no sixth form, the school focuses squarely on early years and primary education within a community that sees 19.1 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals.

Academically, Framwellgate Moor delivers well above the local average. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 assessments, 83 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a County Durham average of 62 per cent. The school also excels at stretching its pupils: 30 per cent achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, with particularly strong performances in reading (50 per cent higher standard) and maths (60 per cent higher standard). Average scaled scores in reading and maths both sit at 109, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. Ofsted’s most recent inspection in May 2024 awarded top marks across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all received the highest grade of Outstanding. The school’s national ranking places it in the top seven per cent of all primary schools in England, and within the North East region it sits 42nd out of 677.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a sports hall, dining hall, forest school area, sensory room, ICT suite and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, gymnastics, cricket, dance, netball and swimming, while extracurricular options include gardening, art club and film club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school’s SEND register covers specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. Admission for the 2025/26 intake shows the school is oversubscribed: 116 applications were received for 38 places, with 55 families listing it as their first preference and 37 of those receiving an offer — a ratio of just over three applicants per place. This is a school that suits families prioritising strong academic outcomes within a supportive, well-resourced environment, particularly those who value outdoor learning through the forest school and a wide range of sporting and creative clubs.

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