9 Best Primary Schools in Durham City: Picking primary schools for your child can sometimes be a difficult task and be about a range of factors. From choice to location to ease for parents or guidance, there can be a lot of factors when selecting primary schools.
In the coming days, primary school applications close for parents, so this the perfect time for you to take a look at the best primary schools to send your child. We have looked at the primary schools in the County Durham that have the most rating reports in the region.
Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School
The School caters for children between the ages of three (3) and eleven, (11) the majority of people living in the local area. The school lies on the eastern edge of the village of Ferryhill in County Durham.
The school was built in 1973 and has been added to over recent years to provide additional facilities. After extensive updating, of the building now comprises of two major scales of teaching wings, joined by a large hall.
The school also has a separate library area which consists of seven (7) classrooms and a purpose-built.
Cockfield Primary School
Was founded in 1856 as a National School to meet the educational needs of the children of Institution. The several Victorian additions to the building gave the children facility for schooling to 14 years of age.
As rationalization and legislation has progressed, the school has served the needs of the 4-10 years age, from the further villages of Thorpe Morieux, Bradfield Combust, Bradfield St Clare and Bradfield St George.
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Cotherstone School
is situated in the centre of Cotherstone – a village on the River Tees approximately 4 miles west of Barnard Castle.
It was opened in 1964, primarily to serve the children of Cotherstone and surrounding the villages.
The building is attractive, standing in its own extensive grounds in a beautiful rural surroundings, providing safe, clean and stimulating environment for the children development and growth.
The school seeks to provide all pupils with a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum matched to their individual needs. In this way children will gain knowledge of the world around them and develop a desire to learn more about that world.
During the course of the year, pupils will cover the full range of subjects within the National Curriculum, though at different stages of the year there may be a different emphasis (and therefore time) allocated to each curriculum area.
The National Curriculum (and the accompanying assessment) as delivered in this school is a legal requirement and, ordinarily, no pupil may be excused.
Teaching The children are taught across three classes. Class 1 – Reception and Year 1 and Year 2, Class 2 – Year 3 and Yr 4, Class 3 – Years 5 and 6.
Durham Johnston
Was founded in 1901 with money left to the County Council by Susan Johnston, widow of Johnston who died in 1855. The school is named after James Finlay Weir Johnston, a professor of Chemistry at Durham University.
He worked to bring education to a wide range of people – rich and poor, male and female – and believed that it should be useful and scientific as well as historical and literary.
Johnston was, unusually, a mixed grammar technical school until 1918, when a girls’ grammar school was built which is now the Durham Gilesgate Sixth Form Centre.
Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School
The School as founded in 1836 by Temple Chevallier, which has previously been part of nearby Glebe Farm. Mr Andy Parks, the Head and although not a former convent, this Church of England primary school also assists teachings with Christianity.
The school holds the motto ‘Everyone Smiles Here’ and a SIAS inspection found this to be a trend setter in the way pupil’s behaviour towards each other and has been stated to be highly commendable.
Framwellgate Moor Primary School
The school buildings were opened in 1965, with most of the other blocks following over the next decades. The school operated comprehensively since 1971.
The school was formerly known as Framwellgate Moor Comprehensive School, and was commonly known by the initials FMCS.
The school was granted Specialist Science College status in 2003. And in 2011 the school was granted independent academy status as part of the UK Conservative government’s “Big Society” education plans.
This meant that the school gained greater control over its education and teaching, though it remains state-run.
In 2016, the school was granted £2m funding to build a new sports centre to replace the former one; the building was completed in September 2017.
Howden-le-Wear Primary School
9 Best Primary Schools in Durham City
Howden-le-Wear Primary School was the first day school in Howden-le-Wear with a charity elementary school opened by the Non-Conformists Church.
The esleyan Day School, opened on the 18th August 1856 and provided education for the village and surrounding area.
It was held in the Sunday School Rooms, High Street, more recently sold and converted into a private dwelling.
This continued as the only means of education until 1887 when the Bedburn Board had the Howden-le-Wear Board School built.
The numbers of children on the school registers depended a great deal on the availability of work in the region.
When the coal mines were operating there was a great influx of scholars but, as collieries closed people sought employment elsewhere and the numbers of pupils dropped considerably. Absenteeism was a major problem.
Very often they were of a serious nature due to an epidemic. The epidemics were so severe on many occasions that the whole school had to close.
The weather also determined attendance, very often during the winter months the surrounding roads were impassable. The dark days also often enforced early closure because the oil lamps gave insufficient light.
Lack of heating also often enforced closure. The local schools relied upon local coal mines providing the coal for heating the stoves and fires.
When miners went on strike, coal was not delivered. Lessons were often taken in very cold conditions and on occasions the children were sent home.
Kirk Merrington Primary School
The school is situated on the south side of the village of Kirk Merrington, which is on the outskirts of Spennymoor. It was moved to this site from the centre of the village in 1925.
Today a brand new state of the art primary school built in 2013, stands on the site. The school is organized into five classrooms, with a mixed age group combination in Key Stage 2 classes.
There is a library and computer suite where lessons take place. The hall is used for assemblies, drama, P.E. and other school activities.
We cook our own meals on site. There are extensive school grounds and the ridge side aspect of the school offers magnificent views over the surrounding countryside.
Lumley Infant and Nursery School
9 Best Primary Schools in Durham City
This is a smaller than an average sized school. Nearly all pupils are of White British heritage and speak English as their home language.
The percentage of pupils known to be eligible for pupil premium funding (additional funding for those who are eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children who are looked after by the local authority) is below average.
The proportion of children who need extra help with their learning and are supported through school action, school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average.
The school holds a number of awards including enhanced Healthy School status and the Basic Skills Quality Mark.
The school is recognised as a Leadership Development School and provides support and advice to other schools when it is requested.
Conclusion
9 Best Primary Schools in Durham City
In conclusion Durham city educational Councils depart continues to provide support and intervention, including intensive support for the schools in most need to ensure that that best educational outcomes for the children and young people in Durham.
The school improvement team was currently form and formal produce for monitoring intervention and improvement were agreed with schools and settings. This is the perfect time for you to take a look at the best primary schools to send your child.