Greenland Community Primary School

About Greenland Community Primary School

Greenland Community Primary School sits within County Durham’s primary landscape as a strong performer, ranking 12th out of 170 schools in the local authority. That puts it in the top 10 per cent of primaries in the area, and it’s the fourth-highest ranked school in its immediate peer group, behind Montalbo Nursery & Primary School, Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School and Cestria Primary School. Headteacher Anne-Marie Lewis leads a mixed, state-funded primary for children aged 4 to 11, with 333 pupils on roll against a capacity of 357. The school has a notably high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 45 per cent, well above the national average. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in April 2025, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. The inspection was an ungraded visit, and the outcome noted that the school had improved significantly since its previous graded inspection in 2012, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Academically, Greenland Community Primary School performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the County Durham average of 62 per cent. The school’s ranking score of 84 places it in the top 10 per cent nationally among primary schools. Individual subject results were strong: 90 per cent met the expected standard in reading, 92 per cent in maths and 84 per cent in writing. At the higher standard, 20 per cent of pupils achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects, with 57 per cent reaching that level in maths and 45 per cent in reading. Average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 109 in maths. Progress measures are not available in the data, but the attainment figures alone suggest a school that consistently delivers above the typical outcomes for its local authority.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, art studios, playing fields, a sensory room, library, ICT suite and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, cricket, cross country and football, while clubs range from choir and book club to film club and eco club. For children with additional needs, the school provides support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed: it received 63 applications for 38 places, with 37 first-preference offers made. Parent views are largely positive — 87 per cent of respondents would recommend the school, and 74 per cent strongly agreed that their child is happy there. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes in a community with high levels of disadvantage, and where SEND support is a stated priority.

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