Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington

About Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington

Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School in Willington was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, with inspectors awarding the highest possible mark of Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes. That judgement sits alongside a solid set of Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 academic year, which give a clearer picture of how the school is performing academically. Some 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is comfortably above the County Durham local authority average of 62%. The school ranks 58th out of 170 primary schools in the county on this metric, placing it in the top half of its local authority. Reading is a particular strength: 94% of pupils met the expected standard and 31% achieved the higher standard, while average reading and maths scores of 107 and 103 respectively suggest solid foundations across the core subjects.

The school’s Ofsted report also notes that early years provision, personal development, leadership and management, and the quality of education are all Good, with the early years grade having improved from a previous rating of 2. The school’s previous inspection in 2009 had awarded an Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating represents a step down, but the inspectors were clear that behaviour remains exceptional. With only 122 pupils on roll against a capacity of 126, the school is operating close to full but not overcrowded. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 24.6%, which is above the national average and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. There is no sixth form, as this is a primary school, but nursery provision is available for children from age two.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including a chapel, music rooms, art studios, a sensory room, and a sports hall, plus playing fields and an outdoor playground. Sports on offer include football, cricket, gymnastics, netball, swimming and athletics, while clubs cover coding, drama and science. The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 12 first-preference applications for 12 places, but 24 total applications overall, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2 to 1. This suggests strong local demand. The school also has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, physical disability, and moderate learning difficulties. This is a school that combines solid academic outcomes with a strong pastoral and behavioural culture, and it will particularly suit Catholic families in the Willington area who value a faith-based environment alongside good results.

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