Hesleden Primary School Review 2026: Small village primary with standout KS2 outcomes, plus a nursery from age 2

For a small primary with a mixed-age structure, the academic picture is unusually strong. In the most recent Key Stage 2 dataset, 89% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England benchmark of 62%. The higher standard rate is also striking, with 29.67% reaching greater depth across reading, writing and maths, compared with 8% across England.

This performance translates into a solid national position for a state primary. Ranked 2,573rd in England and 4th in Hartlepool for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of primaries in England.

The school takes children from age 2 through Year 6 and includes a nursery and wraparound options. The current leadership listing shows Mrs L Johnson as acting headteacher and SENCO, with safeguarding leadership also held by Mrs Johnson.

A key part of the school’s identity is how explicitly it tries to articulate culture in child-friendly language. The school brochure includes pupil-written statements about “Houses”, a “charter”, “Gem powers”, and celebration systems such as a “good work book”. Taken together, this signals a setting that wants behaviour, motivation, and belonging to feel structured rather than improvised.

The school’s scale shapes daily life. Mixed-year classes can be a benefit when staffing and curriculum sequencing are well aligned, because younger pupils pick up routines quickly and older pupils get regular opportunities to lead. The flip side is that consistency matters more than in a large two-form entry, because any wobble in routines is felt across the building. External evidence from the latest inspection gives a mixed picture, with clear relational strengths alongside inconsistency in classroom expectations.

Early years is a central part of the story here. Nursery and Reception are closely linked through an Early Years unit model, and the school describes provision for funded hours for eligible children. However, the most recent inspection judged early years as the area needing the most urgent improvement, so families considering a nursery start should probe how curriculum planning and staff training have evolved since that judgement.

The Key Stage 2 outcomes are the headline. In the most recent results dataset, 89% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 62% across England. Science is also extremely strong with 100% reaching the expected standard.

Depth measures matter because they indicate how well the school stretches higher prior-attainers. At the higher standard across reading, writing and maths, 29.67% reached greater depth, compared with 8% across England. On scaled scores, reading is 109, maths is 105, and grammar, punctuation and spelling is 108.

To place results in context beyond a single percentage, the school’s overall position is also strong. Ranked 2,573rd in England and 4th in Hartlepool for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance sits above England average and within the top 25% of primaries in England.

What should parents take from this? First, outcomes suggest most pupils leave Year 6 secure in core skills, with a sizeable group working at greater depth. Second, the school is doing this with a small cohort, where year-to-year fluctuations can be more pronounced than in a large primary. If your child’s year group is particularly small, it is worth asking how the school manages differentiation, groupings, and extension, especially in mixed-age classes.

Phonics and early reading appear to be a deliberate focus. The most recent inspection describes a consistent approach to phonics teaching, with assessment used to identify pupils who need targeted support, and a reading scheme intended to broaden the range of texts pupils encounter over time. That combination is usually the right engine for strong KS2 reading outcomes, because it tightens the link between decoding, fluency, and the stamina needed for longer comprehension.

Curriculum work has also been a stated priority, with particular reference to mathematics and computing in the inspection narrative. That matters for two reasons. It suggests subject leadership exists even in a small school, and it also implies that staff training is being used to build subject knowledge across the team, a common challenge in small primaries where teachers cover many subjects.

The key question for families is coherence. Results indicate the end point is strong by Year 6. The inspection highlights that early years curriculum planning was not as well defined at the time of review, creating a risk of uneven foundations. In practice, parents of nursery and Reception children will want to understand what routines, language development work, and structured play sequences now look like day-to-day.

As a state primary, most pupils will move on to local state secondaries through the County Durham admissions process, and patterns will vary with family preference and transport. Given the school’s strong Key Stage 2 outcomes, many pupils should be well placed for a smooth transition into a mainstream secondary curriculum, particularly in reading and maths.

The school also signals an emphasis on ambition and resilience through residential visits and “Houses” language in its own materials. In a transition context, those are useful levers: children who have practised leadership, routines, and self-management in primary typically settle into Year 7 expectations more confidently.

If you are shortlisting schools, FindMySchool’s Local Hub comparison view is a practical way to benchmark nearby primaries on the same metrics, especially if you are weighing a move or considering transport trade-offs.

The school is a Durham local authority school for admissions purposes, and families are directed to apply through the County Durham primary admissions route rather than directly to the school. The published admission number shown on the school site is 19.

Demand indicators point to competition for places in the most recent admissions dataset available, with 11 applications for 7 offers, which equates to about 1.57 applications per offered place. That is consistent with the school being described as oversubscribed in the admissions dataset.

For September 2026 entry, County Durham’s published timeline indicates applications opened on 1 September 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026, with offer day shown as 16 April 2026.

Nursery entry is handled differently from Reception. The school invites families considering nursery or Reception to arrange a visit. For nursery, the school’s own materials reference funded hours for eligible children, including provision from age 2. Specific nursery pricing can change and is best taken from the school’s official materials rather than second-hand summaries.

If you are trying to judge whether this is a realistic option for your address, the most dependable approach is to check the admissions criteria used by the local authority and to use mapping tools to sanity-check travel time and practicality, especially in a village setting where transport is often the deciding factor.

Safeguarding is presented as a core priority in the school’s own communications, with clear signposting of designated safeguarding leadership and a description of staff training, safer recruitment, and links with external agencies where needed.

The most recent inspection also indicates that pupils know how to raise concerns and describes systems such as a worry “post-box”. Bullying is described as something that can occur, with leaders taking it seriously, although the inspection narrative raises concerns about the consistency and clarity of recording.

SEND leadership is a notable feature of the staffing model. The acting headteacher is also listed as SENCO, which can be a strength in a small school because it reduces gaps between strategy and daily implementation. The trade-off is capacity; families whose children need intensive support should ask about time allocation, specialist agency input, and how provision is maintained alongside whole-school leadership demands.

The after-school programme is modest but specific, which is often the right fit for a small primary. The school clubs page sets out clubs running on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with start and finish times and activities that vary by half term and key stage. The programme includes Reading Club, football, “Fundamental movements & Games”, and choir, plus a Year 5 and Year 6 booster club on Wednesdays.

The value here is not sheer volume, it is predictability. When clubs run on fixed days with clear staffing, families can plan childcare and children can commit to a routine. Choir being open to all year groups is also a useful whole-school activity in a small community, because it builds cross-age identity and gives younger pupils aspirational role models.

Facilities and outdoor learning appear to be a deliberate priority. The school brochure describes an enclosed garden being developed for early years outdoor learning, an extensive playing field, play and learning zones, and a dedicated forest school area and learning space. For pupils who learn best through movement and practical experiences, that kind of outdoor offer can be a genuine strength, particularly in the early years and Key Stage 1.

The school day is published clearly. The day starts at 8:55am, with gates opening at 8:45am, and finishes at 3:15pm. Nursery session times are also listed on the school day page.

Wraparound provision is also set out at headline level. Breakfast club runs from 7:45am (with an “early birds” option) and after-school club runs Tuesday to Thursday from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. The site notes that some wraparound sessions are subject to availability, so families with fixed childcare needs should confirm capacity early.

As a state school, there are no tuition fees. Costs typically relate to uniform, trips, and optional clubs or activities, and the school’s own materials emphasise voluntary contributions for educational visits.

• Early years improvement is the key due diligence point. The most recent inspection judged early years as the weakest area at the time. If you are considering nursery or Reception, ask what has changed in curriculum planning, staff training, and learning routines since then.

• Small cohorts can mean bigger year-to-year variation. Strong results are encouraging, but in a small primary a handful of pupils can shift percentages materially. Focus on the consistency of teaching approaches and how mixed-age classes are structured.

• Behaviour expectations need to feel consistent. External evidence raised concerns about clarity and consistency around expectations for classroom behaviour. It is worth asking how routines are taught and reinforced across classes.

• Extracurricular breadth is improving but may feel limited. Clubs are real and structured, but the inspection narrative suggests enrichment beyond the classroom was not as rich or varied as it should be at the time. Families for whom wide enrichment is a non-negotiable should explore what is currently on offer.

This is a small state primary delivering unusually strong KS2 outcomes, with outdoor learning assets and a clear attempt to codify culture through a charter, houses, and shared language. The current headline challenge is early years quality and consistency, which is particularly important because the school takes children from age 2.

Best suited to families who want a village-scale primary with strong core academic outcomes, who will engage with the school early about nursery and Reception practice, and who value predictable wraparound and a manageable club programme over a very large extracurricular menu.