Cotsford Primary School

Cotsford Primary School is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating in all inspected areas, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is the school's first inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 since merging in September 2019 and reflects a positive educational environment where students confidently participate in discussions and demonstrate pride in their school. The curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• The school provides effective support for pupils with SEND.
• Pupils achieve well and show enthusiasm for reading.
• The curriculum is well thought-out and tailored to meet pupils' needs.
• Staff are well trained, particularly in teaching reading and phonics.
• Pupils participate actively in meaningful discussions.
• Strong emphasis on character development and mental health support.
• Effective systems for promoting good attendance.

Areas for Improvement

• In some foundation subjects, the curriculum does not prioritize important knowledge.
• Recent changes in the governing body have impacted its effectiveness.
• A small number of older pupils use derogatory language, impacting inclusivity.

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 Cotsford Primary School attended 95.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.2% 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 Cotsford 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 Cotsford Primary School had 19.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.9% 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, 17.1% of pupils at Cotsford Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% 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 Cotsford Primary School received £8,868 and spent £7,470 for each of its 181 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £246,000 (£1,357 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 Peterlee · County Durham local authority: places and applications

What is Cotsford Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cotsford Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Cotsford Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cotsford Primary School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Cotsford Primary School have?

Cotsford Primary School has 181 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cotsford Primary School cover?

Cotsford Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Cotsford Primary School?

Cotsford Primary School is at Third Street, Horden, Third Street, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 4EH.