St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle is a mainstream primary school in Barnard Castle, County Durham, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 28 of its 103 pupils (27.2%) were getting SEN support and 2 (1.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 103 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in County Durham.
27.2% get SEN support
28 of 103 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.9% have an EHC plan
2 of 103 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication8
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia8
- Social, emotional and mental health6
- Moderate learning difficulty5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 103 (places for 105)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lesley Ann Box
- Part of
- Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 21.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- County Durham
- School reference (URN)
- 149058
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask County Durham council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, November 2019; standards maintained (November 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2019.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, November 2024).
Contact and getting there
Birch Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8JR
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Highcroft School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 6.7 miles
- Pear Tree School Independent · Ages 8–18 11 miles
- Bishop Barrington Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 12 miles
- Richmond School & Sixth Form College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 12 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Montalbo Nursery & Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.2%, EHC plans 1.3% 0.4 miles
- Green Lane Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.4%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.5 miles
- Teesdale School and Sixth Form Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 15.2%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in County Durham SEND schools in County Durham
Questions about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle
How many pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 28 of the 103 pupils (27.2%) were getting SEN support and 2 (1.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (8 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (8 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle?
Through County Durham council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle?
You can ask for St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Bishop Barrington Academy, about 12 miles away.
Where is St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle?
Birch Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8JR, in County Durham.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.