Shotton Hall Primary School

Shotton Hall Primary School is performing effectively, maintaining the high standards designated in the previous inspection. The school has created a warm and nurturing environment that fosters respectful relationships and promotes pupils' well-being. Academic expectations are high, particularly in English and mathematics, with pupils achieving results that align closely with national averages. The curriculum is ambitious, and the school's focus on personal development is evident through a variety of enriching activities that help students become active and engaged citizens in their community. While there are many strengths, such as the effective phonics teaching and positive attitudes towards learning, there are identified areas for improvement, specifically in the consistency of how teachers assess understanding and tailor learning activities. The school recognizes these gaps and is committed to addressing them to ensure that all pupils can secure a robust understanding of the curriculum. Overall, Shotton Hall Primary School is well-led and valued by its community, making it a strong educational environment.

Strengths

• Warm and caring atmosphere fostering respectful relationships.
• High ambitions for academic achievement, particularly in English and mathematics.
• Effective phonics instruction leading to strong reading engagement.
• Ambitious curriculum designed for knowledge and skill development.
• Strong focus on pupils' personal development and citizenship.
• Positive pupil attitudes and high attendance rates.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Well-led by committed and skilled senior leaders and governors.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in how teachers assess pupils' understanding.
• Some lesson activities do not adequately support deep learning and knowledge retention.

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 Shotton Hall Primary School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.3% 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, 0.9% of pupils at Shotton Hall 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 Shotton Hall Primary School had 22.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.9% 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, 8.6% of pupils at Shotton Hall Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.9% 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 Shotton Hall Primary School received £7,576 and spent £7,283 for each of its 350 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £587,000 (£1,678 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 Shotton Hall Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Shotton Hall Primary School is Good, from an inspection in February 2025.

When was Shotton Hall Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Shotton Hall Primary School was last inspected in February 2025.

How many pupils does Shotton Hall Primary School have?

Shotton Hall Primary School has 350 pupils on roll.

What age range does Shotton Hall Primary School cover?

Shotton Hall Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Shotton Hall Primary School?

Shotton Hall Primary School is at Waveney Road, Peterlee, County Durham, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 1NX.