West Pelton Primary School

West Pelton Primary is performing well, having improved from its previous inspection where it was rated as 'requires improvement' to now being judged as 'good' overall. The school fosters a positive and nurturing environment where pupils feel happy, safe, and proud of their school. With a clear focus on maintaining high expectations, the staff effectively support pupils' achievements in key subjects like mathematics, reading, and writing. While there is a commendable emphasis on pupil well-being and behavior, the leadership recognizes the need for further improvements in some curriculum areas such as history, geography, and computing.

Strengths

• Pupils are achieving well in mathematics, reading, and writing.
• The teaching of phonics is effective across Reception and key stage 1.
• Positive relationships exist between staff and pupils, fostering a supportive environment.
• Parents view the school positively and appreciate improvements and communication.
• Strong leadership in early years provision enhances children's learning.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum planning in history, geography, and computing needs further development.
• Less able pupils sometimes find reading books too challenging and need more reading support.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at West Pelton Primary School attended 91.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 25.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 7.2% of pupils at West Pelton Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 West Pelton Primary School had 12.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 27.3% of pupils at West Pelton Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 7.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 West Pelton Primary School received £12,025 and spent £12,568 for each of its 53 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £66,000 (£1,237 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Stanley · County Durham local authority: places and applications

What is West Pelton Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for West Pelton Primary School is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was West Pelton Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

West Pelton Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does West Pelton Primary School have?

West Pelton Primary School has 55 pupils on roll.

What age range does West Pelton Primary School cover?

West Pelton Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are West Pelton Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is West Pelton Primary School?

West Pelton Primary School is at Twizell Lane, West Pelton, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 6SQ.