Durham City primary schools

[WilfredaBeehive]

Hi everyone - I’d be grateful for any advice. We are considering relocating from the South to Durham City with 2 young DC (Y1 and pre-school age) as we lived in Durham years ago and it still seems like a great city for families. We’ve seen some properties in budget in the North End area of the city but I am not sure what options there are for primary schools in this area? It seems like a bit of a black hole for primary school as St Margarets, Neville’s Cross Primary etc are quite some distance away. We were trying to keep in mind Durham Johnston as an option for secondary. Thanks for any thoughts (or any other suggestions for areas we could consider)!

You posted this a while ago so not sure if it is still helpful. We moved to Durham relatively recently, although are on the north side. What we've found is that schools are increasingly over subscribed and if you don't live in close proximity you are unlikely to get in, this applies to both primary and secondary. So, if you are set on Durham Johnston eventually, buy close to there now (which could well put you close to Neville's cross for eg).

Sorry, I meant we are on the south side!

Thank you very much for your reply. We are embarking on our house search in earnest now and have made a visit to Durham - still as lovely as I remember it!

Yes, it does sound as though the primaries are over-subscribed these days. We have expanded our house search to the north of the city too so Framwellgate could be an option (though unlikely to be in catchment for Johnston).

Does anyone have any experience of Framwellgate Moor primary or secondary schools?

Both of the Fram schools are good. North End area will be fine for getting in to Johnston and you would also have St Leonard’s if you wanted to go down the faith school route. St Margaret’s is always and has always been over subscribed. Newton Hall Infants/Blue Coat Juniors are also popular.

Thanks Paquita! Good to know Johnston might still be an option in the north and that the Framwellgate schools are both good.

It was great to be back in Durham recently - the centre of the city has really expanded since my student days!

It really is very different than when we came here for uni in 1992! We’ve not left though, it really is a lovely place to live.

Durham are consulting on the oversubscription criteria for secondary schools, which might be worth considering durham.gov.uk/article/24169/Consultation-on-proposed-change-to-secondary-school-admission-arrangements-2022-2023

ps good luck with your house hunt!

needanewnamenow - congratulations on your move - we chatted on another thread. Hope you're all settled in.

wilfreda - sorry I can't help with primary schools but good luck!

Thank you Needanewname, that is helpful as I wasn’t clear on the previous criteria!

We are so keen to make the move! We really love the city and it seems such a great place to grow up, especially with the countryside and Newcastle close by. I just hope we can find somewhere in the City with primary places and the option of a good secondary for when the time comes, everywhere seems oversubscribed right now. Fingers crossed!

And thanks for the kind wishes Myrtle.