Schools in Peterlee

Around 20,000 people live here today.

Planned from scratch in 1948 as one of England's post-war new towns, Peterlee was purpose-built to rehouse the mining families of County Durham's east coalfield, drawing its name from Peter Lee, the first miners' union leader to chair a county council. The town's estates spread eastward toward the Durham Heritage Coast, with Westway among the most sought-after corners for primary catchments; Shotton Colliery to the south and Easington Village carry the deep imprint of the coalfield past. Road connections along the A19 reach Sunderland to the north and Hartlepool to the south; Durham station, twelve miles inland on the East Coast Main Line, gives regular services to Newcastle in around fifteen minutes.