Primary school

Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School

  • Community School
  • ages 3–11
  • Mixed
  • Durham
  • DL17 8PP
Ofsted Requires improvement · inspected May 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 11,746 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 79%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 29%29%2016/17: top 65%2017/18: top 71%2018/19: top 36%2022/23: top 16%16% · 2022/232023/24: top 71%2024/25: top 79%No exams

Against North East

Expected standard, RWM52% · North East 67%Small cohort: 25 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Higher standard, RWM4% · North East 8%Small cohort: 25 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Reading score100 · North East 105Small cohort: 25 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Maths score99 · North East 105Small cohort: 25 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 65% · 17 pupils · North East 58%2016/17: 57% · 23 pupils · North East 68%2017/18: 58% · 19 pupils · North East 72%2018/19: 72% · 25 pupils · North East 69%2022/23: 76% · 21 pupils · North East 65%2023/24: 54% · 26 pupils · North East 64%2024/25: 52% · 25 pupils · North East 67%76%52%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 6% · 17 pupils · North East 5%2016/17: 9% · 23 pupils · North East 7%2017/18: 5% · 19 pupils · North East 10%2018/19: 28% · 25 pupils · North East 10%2022/23: 19% · 21 pupils · North East 7%2023/24: 0% · 26 pupils · North East 6%2024/25: 4% · 25 pupils · North East 8%28%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 103 · 17 pupils · North East 1032016/17: 104 · 23 pupils · North East 1042017/18: 104 · 19 pupils · North East 1062018/19: 105 · 25 pupils · North East 1052022/23: 109 · 21 pupils · North East 1052023/24: 103 · 26 pupils · North East 1052024/25: 100 · 25 pupils · North East 105109100No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 102 · 17 pupils · North East 1032016/17: 102 · 23 pupils · North East 1052017/18: 103 · 19 pupils · North East 1052018/19: 108 · 25 pupils · North East 1052022/23: 109 · 21 pupils · North East 1042023/24: 102 · 26 pupils · North East 1042024/25: 99 · 25 pupils · North East 10510999No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
16 of 16 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st1616
2nd50
3rd70

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2024

  1. 2006Outstandingas predecessor
  2. 2007Good
  3. 2010Satisfactory
  4. 2012Good
  5. 2017Requires improvement
  6. 2019Good
  7. 2024Requires improvement

0 strong areas

5 weak areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026181
Free school meals (past 6 years)73.5%
First language not English15.4%
SEN support14.8%
EHC plan3.0%
Absence (sessions missed)6.6%
Persistently absent pupils21.7%

Girls 46.8%Boys 53.3%

69.1% full · 262 places

Parent View

As at 6 Apr 2026 · 45 responses (26.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school97.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school100% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved93.3% agree
  • Has your child been bullied at this school?28.9% yes
  • When the bullying took place the school dealt with it quickly and effectively · asked only of the 28.9% who said Yes above76.9% agree
  • Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?22.2% yes
  • The school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 22.2% who said Yes above100% agree
  • The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know97.8% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 20% had no concerns to raise91.7% agree
  • When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart97.8% agree
  • The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well97.8% agree
  • Would you recommend this school to another parent?97.8% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher22.0
Pupils per adult8.0
  • Classroom teachers 5
  • Leadership 2.9
  • Teaching assistants 13.8
  • Other support 5

Teachers 7.9 FTE · Whole workforce 26.6 · 35 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£9,120
Spend per pupil£9,471
Staff spend per pupil£7,016
Reserve per pupil£129
  • +£22,500revenue reserve
  • −£61,005in-year balance

Grants £8,758 · self-generated £378 · premises £493 per pupil