Springmoor Grange School

About Springmoor Grange School

Springmoor Grange School’s headline Key Stage 2 results land exactly on the County Durham local authority average of 62% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. That places it in the middle of the pack for a state primary in this part of the North East — ranked 94th out of 208 similar schools in the borough, and just inside the national median at the 52nd percentile. It’s a solid, unflashy performance that reflects the school’s overall character: reliable rather than exceptional. The school’s Ofsted rating of Good, confirmed in a June 2024 inspection, is consistent with that picture. Interestingly, the previous inspection in 2019 rated leadership and management as Outstanding and early years provision as Outstanding too, but the most recent report brought both down to Good, alongside behaviour, personal development and the quality of education. So while the school has held its Good overall rating, it has lost some of its earlier standout grades.

Digging into the detail of the 2023/24 SATs, the school’s strongest subject was maths, where 74% of pupils met the expected standard and 19% reached the higher standard — a higher-pupil proportion than in reading or writing. Reading and writing both saw 74% of pupils hitting the expected mark in writing, but reading lagged slightly at 68%. The average scaled scores for reading and maths were both 103, exactly the national benchmark. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it’s hard to say whether pupils are making above-average gains from their starting points, but the raw attainment figures suggest a school that gets most children to where they need to be. The school’s ranking score of 62 out of 100 on the expected-standard metric places it in the bottom half nationally, but given that the LA average is also 62, that’s more a reflection of County Durham’s overall profile than a weakness specific to Springmoor Grange.

The school is noticeably oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 120 applications for 54 places, a ratio of 2.22 applicants per place, and all 47 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. That suggests strong local demand, particularly from families who live close enough to make it their top choice. The school has a nursery provision for children from age 2, which will appeal to working parents looking for continuity into Reception. Facilities include a Forest School, sensory room, music rooms and an ICT suite, plus a chapel — unusual for a non-religious school. Sports provision is broad, with swimming, tennis and gymnastics alongside more traditional options. The SEND register is comprehensive, covering nine categories from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and multi-sensory impairment, so the school is well equipped to support a wide range of additional needs. With 19.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a moderately disadvantaged intake, and the 402 pupils on roll leave some headroom against the 630 capacity. This is a solid, well-regarded local primary that suits families who value a broad curriculum and strong pastoral support over headline-grabbing exam results.

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