Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #55 in County Durham public Top 8% UK

Kirk Merrington Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Nicola Murray

location_onSpennymoor, DL16 7JB

language Visit Website phone 1388816230

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

157

school

Expected Standard

83%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Kirk Merrington Primary School is a Community school primary school in Spennymoor, serving ages 4-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 8% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Kirk Merrington Primary School is a community school in Spennymoor, County Durham, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 172 pupils on roll, of whom 11% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 6% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #55 of 185 primaries in County Durham and #4,135 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 60%

Reading94% LA 72%

Writing83% LA 72%

Maths89% LA 72%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 58%England 61%

Reading94% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing71% LA 71% · Eng 72%

Maths82% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading94% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing94% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths89% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.9

Read

LA -0.6

-1.1 to 4.9

2.0

Write

LA -0.1

-0.8 to 4.8

-0.5

Maths

LA -0.9

-3.3 to 2.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading84% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 80% · Eng 78%

Maths84% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.8

Read

LA 0.1

0.9 to 6.6

4.1

Write

LA 0.6

1.4 to 6.7

3.0

Maths

LA 0.1

0.5 to 5.5

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

81%

LA 67%

Reading94% LA 77%

Writing81% LA 78%

Maths94% LA 78%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.3

Read

LA 0.7

0.3 to 6.3

2.3

Write

LA 0.6

-0.6 to 5.2

Maths

LA 0.6

2.3 to 7.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

05 March 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

07 December 2011

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

30 June 2010

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

24 January 2007

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

08 May 2001

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-03-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-12-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2007-01-24

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 172 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	172	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	171	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	165	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	165	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	167	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	157	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	157	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	157	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	149	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	150	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	149	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	147	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	150	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	149	3	2.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	138	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	138	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	138	1	0.7%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	132	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	131	1	0.8%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	127	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	128	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	124	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	125	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	124	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	122	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	121	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 7 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

16.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree84%

agree13%

disagree3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree79%

agree21%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree48%

agree13%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

not applicable36%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes18%

no82%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree50%

agree50%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree64%

agree24%

disagree3%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree67%

agree33%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree61%

agree36%

disagree3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree69%

agree31%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree76%

agree21%

disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree52%

agree39%

disagree1%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes97%

no3%

Top Primary Schools in County Durham

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

West Cornforth Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Ferryhill, DL17 9HP

emoji_events #1 in LA

Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy

Outstanding

location_on Ferryhill, DL17 8QY

emoji_events #2 in LA

Sacriston Academy

Good

location_on Durham, DH7 6LQ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Coxhoe Primary School

Good

location_on Durham, DH6 4EJ

emoji_events #4 in LA

Framwellgate Moor Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Durham, DH1 5BG

emoji_events #5 in LA

Burnopfield Primary School

Good

location_on Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE16 6PT

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in County Durham arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in County Durham

West Cornforth Primary School

Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy

Sacriston Academy

Coxhoe Primary School

Framwellgate Moor Primary School

Burnopfield Primary School