Montalbo Nursery & Primary School

About Montalbo Nursery & Primary School

Montalbo Nursery & Primary School sits in County Durham, a local authority where it is ranked first out of 170 primary schools, placing it firmly at the top of the local landscape. It is one of only eight schools in the authority to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a distinction that sets it apart from the vast majority of its 208 same-type peers. The school’s closest competitors in the local rankings are Cestria Primary School, Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School, and Thornhill Primary School, each with a ranking score of 93. Montalbo’s top-tier position reflects a consistent pattern of strong performance, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 awarded the school Outstanding across every category, including quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. This is a notable upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2015, and the school’s early years provision also jumped from a 2 to an Outstanding 1 in the same period.

Academically, Montalbo’s Key Stage 2 results are exceptional. In the 2023/24 academic year, every single pupil — 100 per cent — met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, a figure that towers over the local authority average of 62 per cent. The school also achieved a 100 per cent expected standard in each of the three subjects individually. At the higher standard, 32 per cent of pupils reached the higher benchmark across all three subjects, with 68 per cent doing so in maths, 45 per cent in writing, and 41 per cent in reading. Average scaled scores were 111 in maths and 109 in reading, both well above the national average of 100. Nationally, Montalbo ranks 32nd out of 13,686 primary schools on the combined expected standard metric, and second in the North East region out of 677 schools. These figures paint a picture of a school where academic expectations are consistently met and often exceeded.

The school is oversubscribed, with 68 applications for 30 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 41 of those as first preferences — a ratio of 2.27 applicants per place. It offers a nursery provision for children from age three, and its facilities include an ICT suite, library, playing fields, gymnasium, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, athletics, netball, and cross country, while clubs range from book club and eco club to gardening and science club. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, and physical disability. For families in County Durham seeking a primary school with outstanding Ofsted grades, exceptional academic outcomes, and a strong local reputation, Montalbo is a clear frontrunner, though its oversubscription means early application is essential.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Montalbo Nursery & Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents