Finchale Primary School

Finchale Primary School is performing well following its previous inspection, maintaining effective standards and demonstrating a strong commitment to personal development. Pupils feel safe and enjoy learning, showcasing high levels of engagement and cooperation in both classroom and play activities. The school prides itself on its inclusive environment and strong community values, which contribute to the positive atmosphere described by students as the 'Finchale family.' In addition to academic successes, the school offers a rich array of clubs and activities that support pupils' diverse interests.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate excellent manners and positive relationships.
• High levels of attendance and effective support for families regarding attendance.
• Strong commitment to personal development with numerous extracurricular activities.
• Teachers exhibit secure subject knowledge and effectively explain concepts.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent checking of pupils' understanding during lessons.
• Some foundation subjects do not support long-term retention of key concepts.

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 Finchale Primary School attended 97.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 3.7% 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 Finchale 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 Finchale Primary School had 26.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.4% 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, 7.7% of pupils at Finchale Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.4% 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 Finchale Primary School received £6,219 and spent £5,917 for each of its 209 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £46,000 (£219 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 Finchale Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Finchale Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Finchale Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Finchale Primary School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Finchale Primary School have?

Finchale Primary School has 209 pupils on roll.

What age range does Finchale Primary School cover?

Finchale Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Finchale Primary School?

Finchale Primary School is at Canterbury Road, Newton Hall, Durham, County Durham, DH1 5XT.