Primary school

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Blackhill

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 5–11
  • Mixed
  • Roman Catholic
  • Durham
  • DH8 8JD
Ofsted Good · inspected Mar 2015

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 6,473 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 43%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 10%10%2016/17: top 3%3% · 2016/172017/18: top 8%2018/19: top 13%2022/23: top 67%2023/24: top 55%2024/25: top 43%No exams

Against North East

Expected standard, RWM67% · North East 67%Small cohort: 27 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Higher standard, RWM7% · North East 8%Small cohort: 27 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Reading score106 · North East 105Small cohort: 27 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Maths score104 · North East 105Small cohort: 27 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Show KS2 results by year

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

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 77% · 26 pupils · North East 58%2016/17: 92% · 24 pupils · North East 68%2017/18: 87% · 30 pupils · North East 72%2018/19: 83% · 30 pupils · North East 69%2022/23: 55% · 31 pupils · North East 65%2023/24: 61% · 28 pupils · North East 64%2024/25: 67% · 27 pupils · North East 67%92%55%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 12% · 26 pupils · North East 5%2016/17: 4% · 24 pupils · North East 7%2017/18: 7% · 30 pupils · North East 10%2018/19: 7% · 30 pupils · North East 10%2022/23: 3% · 31 pupils · North East 7%2023/24: 0% · 28 pupils · North East 6%2024/25: 7% · 27 pupils · North East 8%12%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 108 · 26 pupils · North East 1032016/17: 110 · 24 pupils · North East 1042017/18: 111 · 30 pupils · North East 1062018/19: 106 · 30 pupils · North East 1052022/23: 106 · 31 pupils · North East 1052023/24: 106 · 28 pupils · North East 1052024/25: 106 · 27 pupils · North East 105111106No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 109 · 26 pupils · North East 1032016/17: 109 · 24 pupils · North East 1052017/18: 105 · 30 pupils · North East 1052018/19: 104 · 30 pupils · North East 1052022/23: 101 · 31 pupils · North East 1042023/24: 103 · 28 pupils · North East 1042024/25: 104 · 27 pupils · North East 105109101No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
26 of 26 who put it first2014 · 70.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st2626
2nd220
3rd70

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2024

  1. 2007Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2010Goodas predecessor
  3. 2015Goodas predecessor
  4. 2018Remains Goodas predecessor
  5. 2024Remains Good

5 strong areas

  • Quality of teaching
  • Achievement of pupils
  • Early years provision
  • Leadership and management
  • Behaviour and safety of pupils

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · inspected as predecessor

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026202
Free school meals (past 6 years)9.3%
First language not English2.5%
SEN support10.8%
EHC plan0.5%
Absence (sessions missed)3.7%
Persistently absent pupils6.7%

Girls 55.4%Boys 44.6%

74.8% full · 270 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 61 responses (29.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school95.1% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school96.7% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved80.3% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 68.8% not applicable21.1% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year83.6% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 29.5% not applicable60.5% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed58.3% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child91.8% agree
  • My child does well at this school88.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing85.2% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school95.1% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school96.7% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development73.8% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent86.9% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher25.5
Pupils per adult16.1
  • Classroom teachers 5.9
  • Leadership 2
  • Teaching assistants 4.6
  • Other support 4.7

Teachers 7.9 FTE · Whole workforce 17.3 · 26 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£6,162
Spend per pupil£5,637
Staff spend per pupil£4,235
Reserve per pupil£1,613
  • +£329,000revenue reserve
  • +£107,000in-year balance

Grants £5,985 · self-generated £147 · premises £402 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST (47 academies) · trust reserve £4,300,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it