Classpot

Hesleden Primary School

County Durham, TS27 4PTPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Mar 2026
KS2 Results
89%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
7 1st-choice / 7 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#395 of 13,686 nationally

About Hesleden Primary School

Hesleden Primary School is a small state primary in County Durham, currently teaching 101 pupils against a capacity of 134, so there is room to grow. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 29.4%, which is notably higher than the national average and signals a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 11 applications for just 7 places, with all 7 first-preference families offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.57 suggests local parents are keen to get their children in, even though the school is not yet at full capacity. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for children from age 2 through to 11, with nursery provision on site. It sits within the County Durham local authority, a large rural and post-industrial area where only 8 out of 208 primary schools currently hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHesleden, Hartlepool, County Durham, TS27 4PT
HeadteacherL Johnson
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils101
Free School Meals (FSM)29.4%
School Capacity101 / 134 (75% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

18 Apr 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Inadequate

Source: Ofsted, 14 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
LibrarySports HallForest SchoolICT SuiteArt StudiosDining HallOutdoor PlaygroundPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

AthleticsFootballRoundersSwimmingTennisGymnasticsNetball

Clubs & Activities

ChoirGardeningDrama

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Source: hesleden.durham.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hesleden Primary School

Hesleden Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.