Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor
similar schools
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor is a converter academy in Durham for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 98 pupils and room for 105. About 28 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 2 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 0% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was requires improvement, back in 2023.
Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7LF0191 373 4343ourladyandstjosephsushawmoor.bwcet.comMr David Miller headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 18 October 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Requires improvement overall.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 11 December 2019 | Ungraded | School remains Good |
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
10 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 10 | 11 | 15 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 60% | 64% | 53% | 62% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 101.0 | 102.0 | 106.0 | 105.2 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 100.0 | 103.0 | 100.0 | 104.1 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 99.0 | 104.0 | 101.0 | 104.9 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 70% | 73% | 73% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 70% | 64% | 60% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 70% | 73% | 73% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -0.6 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -5.2 | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
68 places were empty (66% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 59% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to County Durham council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 11.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 15.2 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (14), language and communications needs (9), Autistic spectrum disorder (4), Physical disability (2), Other difficulty or disability (1), Vision impairment (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 98 | 37 | 69 | 81 | 87 | 86 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 28% | 30% | 22% | 17% | 17% | 20% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 16% | 19% | 32% | 21% | 28% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 14% | 6% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 91.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 8.6% | 6.6% | 6.4% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.5% | 3.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1.9% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 4.1% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.4% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 20.5% | 14.3% | 15.6% | 11.8% | 4.0% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery | Council | 80 m | 201 | Good 2023 | 17 | Compare |
| New Brancepeth Primary Academy | Academy | 0.7 miles | 109 | No overall grade 2024 | 89 | Compare |
| Bearpark Primary School | Council | 0.8 miles | 105 | Good 2024 | 17 | Compare |
| Langley Moor Primary School | Council | 1.7 miles | 195 | Good 2022 | 76 | Compare |
| Langley Park Primary School | Academy | 1.8 miles | 183 | Requires improvement 2024 | 5 | Compare |
| Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery | Council | 1.9 miles | 277 | Good 2024 | 71 | Compare |
| St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor | Academy | 1.9 miles | 66 | No overall grade 2025 | 78 | Compare |
| Brandon Primary Academy | Academy | 1.9 miles | 280 | No overall grade 2024 | 44 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor with the 48 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 48 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nettlesworth Primary School | Council | 3.6 miles | 105 | Good 2023 | 38 | Compare |
| East Rainton Primary School | Council | 7.2 miles | 101 | Good 2023 | 72 | Compare |
| Castleside Primary School | Academy | 10.2 miles | 83 | Good 2022 | 53 | Compare |
| Cockfield Primary School | Council | 13.2 miles | 115 | Good 2023 | 30 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 2 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 2% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 1 to 6. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | below | -0.14 | 2024 and 2023 results; 11 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | well below | -0.57 | Ofsted grade, 2.9 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | below | -0.17 | DfE progress measure; 11 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.32 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | well below | -0.11 | 2024/25; 39 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | in line | +0.00 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 11 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor a good school?
The figures are weak. Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor scores 2 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 0% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 1 to 6, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
What is Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor requires improvement at its last full inspection on 18 October 2023.
How good are Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 60% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor have?
98 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 105 places, so it is 93% full.
Is Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor oversubscribed?
Probably not. 68 places were empty in 2024/25 (66% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor?
Pupils were in school 91.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 21% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor?
The average class had 14.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7LF
- Telephone
- 0191 373 4343
- Website
- ourladyandstjosephsushawmoor.bwcet.com
- Headteacher
- Mr David Miller
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic, Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
- Multi-academy trust
- Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (46 schools)
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Ward
- Deerness
- Constituency
- City of Durham
- Setting
- Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 November 2020 (academy converter)
- URN
- 148206 · LAESTAB 8403483 · UKPRN 10087089
- Formerly
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Newhouse
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.