Ebchester CofE Primary School

Ebchester CofE Primary provides a nurturing and supportive environment where pupils thrive both academically and socially. The school has a strong sense of community, with pupils actively engaged in their learning and displaying good behavior. With high expectations from leaders regarding educational outcomes, the curriculum has seen improvements, particularly in subjects like mathematics and reading. However, there are areas needing attention, particularly in the revisiting of foundational knowledge in some subjects outside of maths and science, ensuring that the school continues its positive trajectory. This inspection marks the school's first routine evaluation following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strengths

• Welcoming and nurturing school environment.
• Strong sense of community and family atmosphere.
• Pupils are actively engaged and show determination in their learning.
• Good behavior and mutual support among pupils.
• Effective curriculum improvements with external support.
• Consistent and well-delivered reading program.
• Ambitious early years curriculum providing a strong foundation.
• Strong support for pupils with SEND, ensuring access to the curriculum.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent opportunities for pupils to recap knowledge in subjects like history and geography.

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 Ebchester CofE Primary School attended 95.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.4% 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 Ebchester CofE 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 Ebchester CofE Primary School had 15.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.7% 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, 5.2% of pupils at Ebchester CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.3% 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 Ebchester CofE Primary School received £9,086 and spent £9,283 for each of its 77 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £59,000 (£762 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 Consett · County Durham local authority: places and applications

What is Ebchester CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ebchester CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Ebchester CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ebchester CofE Primary School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Ebchester CofE Primary School have?

Ebchester CofE Primary School has 77 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ebchester CofE Primary School cover?

Ebchester CofE Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ebchester CofE Primary School?

Ebchester CofE Primary School is at Shaw Lane, Ebchester, Consett, County Durham, DH8 0QB.