Finding a school for your child can be tricky - with a range of factors in the decision making process for parents. 

Whether it's location, ease of transport or ratings, there's one sure fire way to know your child is going to a good school, and that's Ofsted rankings. 

The Northern Echo has put together the 48 schools in County Durham that have had an Ofsted rating in 2024, and have been ranked 'outstanding', 'good', 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate.

There are four Ofsted ratings in total:

Grade 1: Outstanding 

"An outstanding school provides exceptionally well for the needs of its pupils and prepares them for the next stage of their education or employment at the highest possible level. 

Grade 2: Good

"A good school provides well for the needs of its pupils and prepares them effectively for the next stage of their education or employment.

"Schools rated as ‘good’ receive a one-day short inspection every three years, or a full inspection if the school’s performance has changed dramatically."

Grade 3: Requires Improvement

"A school that requires improvement is not inadequate, but neither is it satisfactory.

"Schools which are rated as requiring improvement will receive another full OFSTED inspection within two years."

Grade 4: Inadequate

"An inadequate school has significant weaknesses and is failing to prepare its students effectively for the next stages of their lives.

"The management and leadership, however, are judged to be Grade 3 or above. Schools graded as inadequate will receive regular OFSTED inspections.

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"If the management team of a Grade 4 school is not judged to be Grade 3 or above, it will be ranked as a Special Measures school."

48 County Durham schools ranked by inspectors 2024:

  • Annfield Plain Infant School - Good - Latest report: 20 May 2024
  • Bearpark Primary School - Good - Latest report: 28 March 2024
  • Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School - Good - Latest report: 10 June 2024
  • Belmont Community School - Good - Latest report: 07 May 2024
  • Bishop Ian Ramsey CofE Primary School - Good - Latest report: 26 April 2024
  • Bloemfontein Primary School, Craghead - Good - Latest report: 23 May 2024
  • Bournmoor Primary School - Good - Latest report: 18 July 2024
  • Bowburn Primary School - Good - Latest report: 14 February 2024
  • Bullion Lane Primary School, Chester le Street - Good - Latest report: 02 May 2024
  • Cotherstone Primary School - Good - Latest report: 25 April 2024
  • Cotsford Primary School, Horden - Good - Latest report: 08 May 2024
  • Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School - Rating: Requires Improvement - Latest report: 01 July 2024
  • Dene Academy. Peterlee - Good - Latest report: 19 January 2024
  • Escomb Primary School - Requires Improvement - Latest report: 22 January 2024
  • Framwellgate Moor Primary School - Outstanding - Latest report: 24 June 2024
  • Frosterley Primary School - Good - Latest report: 07 March 2024
  • Hamsterley Primary School - Good - Latest report: 25 March 2024
  • Hermitage Academy - Good - Latest report: 20 May 2024
  • Hunwick Primary School - Good - Latest report: 10 June 2024
  • King Street Primary School, Spennymoor - Good - Latest report: 14 March 2024
  • Kirk Merrington Primary School - Outstanding - Latest report: 25 April 2024
  • Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School - Good - Latest report: 07 May 2024
  • Laurel Avenue Community Primary School - Good - Latest report: 29 April 2024
  • Lumley Junior School - Good - Latest report: 24 May 2024
  • Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery - Good - Latest report: 05 July 2024
  • Ox Close Primary School - Good - Latest report: 05 July 2024
  • Prince Bishops Community Primary School, Bishop Auckland - Good - Latest report: 22 March 2024
  • Ramshaw Primary School, Bishop Auckland - Good - Latest report: 03 July 2024
  • Red Rose Primary School - Good - Latest report: 16 January 2024
  • Roseberry Primary and Nursery School - Good - Latest report: 29 April 2024
  • Seaview Primary School - Good - Latest report: 04 July 2024
  • Shield Row Primary School, Stanley - Good - Latest report: 24 January 2024
  • South Stanley Junior School - Good - Latest report: 26 June 2024
  • St Francis CofE (Aided) Junior School, Newton Aycliffe - Good - Latest report: 08 July 2024
  • St Hild's College Church of England Aided Primary School, Durham - Good - Latest report: 16 July 2024
  • St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College - Good - Latest report: 10 June 2024
  • St John's Chapel Primary School - Good - Latest report: 04 July 2024
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon - Requires Improvement -Latest report: 10 June 2024
  • St Stephen's Church of England Primary School, Willington - Good - Latest report: 13 March 2024
  • St William's Catholic Primary School, Trimdon Village - Good - Latest report: 05 July 2024
  • Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School - Good - Latest report: 01 February 2024
  • Stanley (Crook) Primary School - Good - Latest report: 21 May 2024
  • Thornley Primary School - Good - Latest report: 12 March 2024
  • UTC South Durham - Good - Latest report: 25 April 2024
  • Victoria Lane Academy, Coundon - Good - Latest report: 18 March 2024
  • West Cornforth Primary School - Outstanding - Latest report: 20 March 2024
  • Woodland Primary School - Good - Latest report: 16 May 2024
  • Woodlea Primary School - Good - Latest report: 24 June 2024