Kirk Merrington Primary School vs St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in North East, England, 2.5 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Kirk Merrington Primary School
Spennymoor · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
180 students
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon
Bishop Auckland · Academy primary · Ages 2–11
100 students
| Measure | Kirk Merrington Primary School Spennymoor, North East | St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon Bishop Auckland, North East |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 75 Top 25% | 47 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #155 of 811 | #438 of 811 |
| National rank | #3027 of 15,697 | #8744 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Local authority | Academy |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 4–11 | Ages 2–11 |
| Students | 180 | 100 |
| Pupils on roll | 180 | 100 |
| Free school meals | 11.7% | 45.5% |
| Capacity filled | 101.1% | 83.3% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 83% | 70% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 6% | 5% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Spennymoor | Bishop Auckland |
| region | North East | North East |
| Website | www.kirkmerrington.durham.sch.uk/ | stjosephscoundon.bhcet.org.uk/ |
The verdict
- •Kirk Merrington Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (74.8 vs 46.7).
- •Kirk Merrington Primary School does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (83% vs 70%).
- •Kirk Merrington Primary School does better on ks2: higher standard (6% vs 5%).
- •Kirk Merrington Primary School is the larger school with 180 students compared with 100.
- •Kirk Merrington Primary School is a local authority school while St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon is a academy school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Kirk Merrington Primary School better than St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon?
On the Success Index (England), Kirk Merrington Primary School ranks higher (74.8 vs 46.7 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Kirk Merrington Primary School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon?
About 2.5 km in a straight line, between Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland in North East.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Kirk Merrington Primary School: 180. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon: 100. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Kirk Merrington Primary School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon rank in North East?
Kirk Merrington Primary School is 155th of 811 and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon is 438th of 811 among primary schools in North East on the 2025 Success Index (England).