Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool

County Durham · DL2 3DR

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 42 pupils, 20% FSM

Educational attainment Ofsted and results

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 16.7% on SEN support Behaviour 2.9% absence rate Staff 33.3% turnover Financials £11,184 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool

General Information

Address: Low Road, Gainford, Darlington, DL2 3DR – View on map
Phone: 01325730274
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Karen Whitaker
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 7 families put it first for 7 places – 10 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. 2 of the 7 places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2025 10 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

42 pupils out of 100 places Plenty of room

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 8
% eligible for free school meals: 20.0%
Pupil mix: 2 in 10 (similar to the County Durham average)
English as an additional language: 0% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 33.3% a year (County Durham 13.1%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 100% moved to another school, 0% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (one year, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. This is a small staff, so one or two teachers leaving moves the figure a lot.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across County Durham: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 12 (0.3 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 5 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 3 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in County Durham, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 2.9%
Persistently absent pupils: 9.3%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 16.7%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 4.8%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 2 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil
Profound and multiple learning difficulty: 1 pupil
Autistic spectrum disorder: 1 pupil
Other difficulty or disability: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Other difficulty or disability: 2 pupils

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

An Ofsted rating for this school hasn't been added yet.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 67% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 17% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 5 percentage points above the County Durham average (62%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well below (3-year average 48% against an expected 72%)
3-year average (expected standard): 48%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 92% · Writing 83% · Maths 75% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 83%
Average test scores: reading 108, maths 106
Based on: 12 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolCounty Durham averageEngland↗ Improving Up 24 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 5 percentage points above the County Durham average (62%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 71st of 184 junior and primary schools in the area

=71Consett Junior School67%
=71Ebchester CofE Primary School67%
=71Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool67%
=71Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery67%
=71St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park67%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate100%
=2Bullion Lane Primary School94%
=2New Seaham Academy94%
#4Thornhill Primary School93%
#5Ingleton CofE Primary School89%
=6Cockfield Primary School88%
=6Sacriston Academy88%
=8Framwellgate Moor Primary School87%
=8Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy87%
#10Evenwood Church of England Primary School86%
=11Montalbo Nursery & Primary School85%
=11St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall85%
=11St Margaret's Church of England Primary School85%
=14Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy84%
=14Coxhoe Primary School84%
=14St Joseph's Catholic Primary School84%
=14Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School84%
=18Kirk Merrington Primary School83%
=18West Cornforth Primary School83%
=20Red Rose Primary School81%
=20St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle81%
=20St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village81%
#23Nettlesworth Primary School80%
#24Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School79%
=25Burnopfield Primary School78%
=25Finchale Primary School78%
=25St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston78%
=28Langley Moor Primary School77%
=28Lumley Junior School77%
=28St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street77%
=28Westlea Primary School77%
=32Kelloe Primary School76%
=32St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School76%
=32West Rainton Primary School76%
=32Wolsingham Primary School76%
=36Greenland Community Primary School75%
=36St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham75%
=38All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester74%
=38Cestria Primary School74%
=38Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School74%
=38South Stanley Junior School74%
=38St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School74%
=38Toft Hill Primary School74%
=44Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School73%
=44Byerley Park Primary School73%
=44New Brancepeth Primary Academy73%
=44Sedgefield Primary School73%
=44St Anne's CofE Primary School73%
=44St Charles' Catholic Primary School, Tudhoe73%
=44St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham73%
=51Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School72%
=51Collierley Nursery and Primary School72%
=51Easington Colliery Primary School72%
=51St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley72%
=51Tudhoe Colliery Primary School72%
=51Vane Road Primary School72%
=57Browney Primary Academy71%
=57Frosterley Primary School71%
=57Middlestone Moor Academy71%
=57Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton71%
=57Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School71%
=57St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton71%
=63Rosa Street Primary and Nursery Academy70%
=63St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon70%
=63St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton70%
=66Deaf Hill Primary School69%
=66Newker Primary School69%
=66St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook69%
=69Ropery Walk Primary School68%
=69Wheatley Hill Community Primary School68%
=71Bloemfontein Primary School67%
=71Consett Junior School67%
=71Ebchester CofE Primary School67%
=71Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool67%
=71Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery67%
=71St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park67%
=71St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon67%
=71St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Blackhill67%
=71St Michael's Church of England Primary School67%
=71St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor67%
=71St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont67%
=82Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School66%
=82St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe66%
=84Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School65%
=84Bournmoor Primary School65%
=84Easington CofE Primary School65%
=84Etherley Lane Primary School65%
=84Pittington Primary School65%
=84Shield Row Primary School65%
=90Ludworth Primary School64%
=90Ramshaw Primary School64%
=90Ribbon School64%
=90Roseberry Primary and Nursery School64%
=90Seaview Primary School64%
=90Shotton Hall Primary School64%
=90Shotton Primary School64%
=90Tanfield Lea Community Primary School64%
=98Byers Green Primary School63%
=98Chilton Academy63%
=98Hartside Primary Academy63%
=98Our Lady and St Joseph Brooms Catholic Primary School, Leadgate63%
#102Stanley Burnside Primary School62%
=103Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School60%
=103Laurel Avenue Community Primary School60%
=103Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor60%
=103St William's Catholic Primary School60%
=103Stanley (Crook) Primary School60%
=108Dene House Primary School59%
=108Shotley Bridge Primary School59%
=108St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston59%
=111Bluebell Meadow Primary School58%
=111Middleton-In-Teesdale Academy58%
=111Peases West Academy58%
=111Springmoor Grange School58%
=111St Stephen's Church of England Primary School58%
=111Woodham Burn Community Primary School and Nursery58%
=117Brandon Primary Academy57%
=117Escomb Primary School57%
=117Esh Winning Academy57%
=117Sherburn Primary School57%
=117South Hetton Primary57%
=117Yohden Primary School57%
=123North Park Primary School56%
=123Oakley Cross Primary School and Nursery56%
=123Stanhope Barrington CofE Primary School56%
=123Willington Primary School56%
=123Witton-le-Wear Primary School56%
#128Green Lane Church of England Primary School55%
=129Cockton Hill Junior School54%
=129East Stanley School54%
=129Ouston Primary School54%
=129Seaham Trinity Primary School54%
=129Thornley Academy54%
=129Tow Law Millennium Primary School54%
=135Annfield Plain Junior School53%
=135Blackhall Primary School53%
=135Cassop Primary School53%
=135Cotsford Primary School53%
=135King Street Primary School53%
=135Witton Gilbert Primary School53%
=141Crook Primary School52%
=141Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School52%
=141Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery52%
=141St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Consett52%
=141Sugar Hill Primary School52%
=141Timothy Hackworth Primary School52%
=147Burnhope Primary School50%
=147Catchgate Primary School50%
=147Durham Gilesgate Primary School50%
=147Langley Park Primary School50%
=147Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington50%
=147West Pelton Primary School50%
#153Pelton Community Primary School48%
=154Acre Rigg Academy47%
=154Leadgate Primary School - Split Site47%
=154St Pius Xth Catholic Primary School, Consett47%
=157St Andrew's Academy46%
=157Victoria Lane Academy46%
=159Bishop Ian Ramsey CofE Primary School45%
=159Fishburn Primary School45%
#161Howletch Lane Primary School44%
=162Castleside Primary School43%
=162Moorside Primary Academy43%
=162St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley43%
=162St Helen Auckland Community Primary School43%
#166Hesleden Primary School42%
#167Howden-le-Wear Primary School41%
=168Cotherstone Primary School40%
=168St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland40%
=170Edmondsley Primary Academy38%
=170The Grove Primary School38%
#172Sunnybrow Primary School36%
#173Delves Lane Primary School35%
#174Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery School32%
=175Bearpark Primary School31%
=175St Marys Catholic Primary School, Wingate31%
=177Beamish Primary School29%
=177Butterknowle Primary School29%
=177Stephenson Way Academy and Nursery School29%
#180St Francis Horndale CofE Primary School25%
#181St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor22%
#182Ferryhill Station Primary School20%
#183Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law11%
#184Seascape Primary School7%

View full Ofsted inspection report

Financials

Spending per pupil: £11,184 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

18th of 189 primary schools in County Durham for spending per pupil

#16St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor£11,230
#17Sunnybrow Primary School£11,199
#18Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool£11,184
#19St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall£10,985
#20St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston£10,912

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Wearhead Primary School£21,232
#2Woodland Primary School£16,016
#3Frosterley Primary School£15,313
#4St John's Chapel Primary School£15,171
#5Hamsterley Primary School£14,190
#6Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School£13,452
#7Evenwood Church of England Primary School£12,463
#8Beamish Primary School£12,295
#9Ferryhill Station Primary School£12,187
#10Laurel Avenue Community Primary School£11,887
#11St Joseph's Catholic Primary School£11,649
#12Butterknowle Primary School£11,643
#13St Michael's Church of England Primary School£11,521
#14Tow Law Millennium Primary School£11,336
#15Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor£11,270
#16St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor£11,230
#17Sunnybrow Primary School£11,199
#18Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool£11,184
#19St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall£10,985
#20St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston£10,912
#21Middleton-In-Teesdale Academy£10,855
#22St Francis Horndale CofE Primary School£10,545
#23Ingleton CofE Primary School£10,356
#24Bournmoor Primary School£10,128
#25Burnhope Primary School£10,090
#26St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor£10,049
#27Our Lady and St Joseph Brooms Catholic Primary School, Leadgate£10,045
#28Byers Green Primary School£9,961
#29Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School£9,915
#30Seascape Primary School£9,890
#31St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate£9,864
#32West Pelton Primary School£9,837
#33Ludworth Primary School£9,794
#34St Pius Xth Catholic Primary School, Consett£9,762
#35Cotherstone Primary School£9,729
#36St Marys Catholic Primary School, Wingate£9,716
#37Fishburn Primary School£9,715
#38Hesleden Primary School£9,694
#39St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley£9,671
#40Stanley Burnside Primary School£9,579
#41Leadgate Primary School - Split Site£9,567
#42Durham Gilesgate Primary School£9,472
#43Bullion Lane Primary School£9,426
#44Wheatley Hill Community Primary School£9,384
#45St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook£9,369
#46Nettlesworth Primary School£9,272
#47Peases West Academy£9,204
#48Cockfield Primary School£9,184
#49Langley Park Primary School£9,160
#50Bearpark Primary School£9,145
#51Seaview Primary School£9,137
#52Shotton Primary School£9,095
#53Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law£9,095
#54Willington Primary School£9,018
#55St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park£8,897
#56Woodham Burn Community Primary School and Nursery£8,885
#57Castleside Primary School£8,844
#58Cassop Primary School£8,780
#59St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School£8,764
#60Oakley Cross Primary School and Nursery£8,745
#61Moorside Primary Academy£8,713
#62West Rainton Primary School£8,655
#63New Brancepeth Primary Academy£8,575
#64St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont£8,505
#65Etherley Lane Primary School£8,493
#66North Park Primary School£8,467
#67St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon£8,467
#68Cotsford Primary School£8,452
#69Timothy Hackworth Primary School£8,448
#70Pelton Community Primary School£8,426
#71Ramshaw Primary School£8,382
#72Thornley Academy£8,374
#73Bloemfontein Primary School£8,349
#74Bishop Ian Ramsey CofE Primary School£8,292
#75Collierley Nursery and Primary School£8,212
#76Blackhall Primary School£8,159
#77St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon£8,149
#78Yohden Primary School£8,010
#79Catchgate Primary School£7,990
#80Crook Primary School£7,980
#81Victoria Lane Academy£7,959
#82Thornhill Primary School£7,929
#83Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School£7,928
#84Delves Lane Primary School£7,918
#85Deaf Hill Primary School£7,912
#86Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School£7,906
#87Stephenson Way Academy and Nursery School£7,896
#88Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery School£7,894
#89West Cornforth Primary School£7,879
#90Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School£7,868
#91Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery£7,766
#92Ebchester CofE Primary School£7,730
#93King Street Primary School£7,715
#94Shield Row Primary School£7,700
#95Ropery Walk Primary School£7,688
#96Kelloe Primary School£7,684
#97Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington£7,683
#98Howden-le-Wear Primary School£7,652
#99St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton£7,645
#100Stanley (Crook) Primary School£7,612
#101Escomb Primary School£7,603
#102Easington Colliery Primary School£7,573
#103Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School£7,553
#104St Andrew's Academy£7,535
#105Westlea Primary School£7,528
#106St Helen Auckland Community Primary School£7,486
#107Greenland Community Primary School£7,483
#108Stanhope Barrington CofE Primary School£7,480
#109Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton£7,442
#110Bluebell Meadow Primary School£7,414
#111Brandon Primary Academy£7,400
#112South Hetton Primary£7,392
#113Wolsingham Primary School£7,383
#114Edmondsley Primary Academy£7,372
#115Howletch Lane Primary School£7,352
#116The Grove Primary School£7,306
#117St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland£7,270
#118Sacriston Academy£7,224
#119Witton Gilbert Primary School£7,198
#120Dene House Primary School£7,193
#121Roseberry Primary and Nursery School£7,187
#122Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School£7,162
#123Witton-le-Wear Primary School£7,117
#124Ribbon School£7,085
#125Seaham Trinity Primary School£7,016
#126Chilton Academy£7,013
#127Aycliffe Village Primary and Nursery School£7,012
#128Esh Winning Academy£7,007
#129Middlestone Moor Academy£6,986
#130All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester£6,985
#131Sedgefield Primary School£6,969
#132Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery£6,964
#133Coxhoe Primary School£6,948
#134St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle£6,940
#135St William's Catholic Primary School£6,933
#136Shotton Hall Primary School£6,913
#137Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy£6,874
#138Sherburn Primary School£6,821
#139St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton£6,805
#140Green Lane Church of England Primary School£6,796
#141St Stephen's Church of England Primary School£6,760
#142Red Rose Primary School£6,758
#143Shotley Bridge Primary School£6,751
#144Hartside Primary Academy£6,738
#145Newker Primary School£6,729
#146St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham£6,682
#147Tanfield Lea Community Primary School£6,681
#148Framwellgate Moor Primary School£6,638
#149Springmoor Grange School£6,634
#150Langley Moor Primary School£6,578
#151Kirk Merrington Primary School£6,561
#152Pittington Primary School£6,559
#153Tudhoe Colliery Primary School£6,544
#154Sugar Hill Primary School£6,494
#155St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe£6,481
#156St Anne's CofE Primary School£6,471
#157Byerley Park Primary School£6,461
#158Toft Hill Primary School£6,426
#159Easington CofE Primary School£6,417
#160Burnopfield Primary School£6,366
#161St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston£6,366
#162Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School£6,346
#163St Margaret's Church of England Primary School£6,345
#164East Stanley School£6,320
#165Montalbo Nursery & Primary School£6,309
#166St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham£6,267
#167St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village£6,210
#168Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School£6,191
#169Browney Primary Academy£6,158
#170Vane Road Primary School£6,092
#171Ouston Primary School£6,083
#172Woodlea Primary School£6,064
#173Cestria Primary School£6,044
#174Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School£6,033
#175St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley£6,027
#176St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School£6,010
#177Finchale Primary School£6,001
#178St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Consett£5,892
#179St Hild's College Church of England Primary School, Durham£5,852
#180St Charles' Catholic Primary School, Tudhoe£5,837
#181St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street£5,744
#182St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Blackhill£5,637
#183New Seaham Academy£5,543
#184Woodhouse Primary Academy£5,399
#185Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy£5,079
#186Copeland Road Primary School£5,036
#187Rosa Street Primary and Nursery Academy£5,014
#188Prince Bishops Community Primary School£4,558
#189Hunwick Primary School£4,242

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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