Wheatley Hill Community Primary School

Wheatley Hill Community Primary School is performing well overall, receiving a 'Good' rating in its latest inspection, which took place in October 2023. Pupils thrive in a nurturing environment, with notable strengths in their behaviour and attitudes, where they exhibit exemplary conduct. The school's approach to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is particularly commendable, providing strong support that allows all pupils, including those with complex needs, to integrate successfully into mainstream classes. The leadership demonstrates ambition in its curriculum, fostering a sense of local identity and engagement in geography and history.

Strengths

• Pupils display exemplary behaviour and attitudes towards learning.
• The school creates a nurturing environment for all pupils.
• Strong support systems in place for pupils with SEND.
• Exceptional physical education program, including swimming and outdoor activities.
• Leaders promote positive mental health and well-being.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils do not receive adequate support to develop reading fluency.
• The school struggles to foster a love of reading among all pupils.
• Governors and phase leaders lack the necessary information and structures to effectively monitor school improvements.

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 Wheatley Hill Community Primary School attended 92.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 20.8% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Wheatley Hill Community 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 Wheatley Hill Community Primary School had 16.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.9% 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, 26.7% of pupils at Wheatley Hill Community Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 17.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 6 pupils.

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 Wheatley Hill Community Primary School received £10,458 and spent £10,300 for each of its 426 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £340,000 (£799 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 Durham · County Durham local authority: places and applications

What is Wheatley Hill Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Wheatley Hill Community Primary School is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Wheatley Hill Community Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Wheatley Hill Community Primary School was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Wheatley Hill Community Primary School have?

Wheatley Hill Community Primary School has 445 pupils on roll.

What age range does Wheatley Hill Community Primary School cover?

Wheatley Hill Community Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Wheatley Hill Community Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Wheatley Hill Community Primary School?

Wheatley Hill Community Primary School is at Wheatley Hill Primary School, Wheatley Hill, DURHAM, DH6 3RQ.