Our Federation
A Message from Our Executive Headteacher
Welcome to the Durham Dales Partnership. As Executive Headteacher, I am proud to lead our family of six small rural primary schools, serving communities across Teesdale and Weardale. Although each school has its own unique character, all are united by a shared commitment to providing an exceptional education, nurturing strong relationships and helping every child reach their full potential.
Our schools provide high-quality education within caring, nurturing and inclusive environments where every child is known, valued and encouraged to succeed. Small class sizes enable staff to build strong relationships with pupils and their families, ensuring that every child receives the individual support, care and encouragement they need to flourish.
We take pride in creating welcoming school communities where children feel safe, happy and confident, enabling them to develop both academically and personally. At the Durham Dales Partnership, we believe that education should inspire curiosity, develop talents and create lasting memories. Alongside a rich and ambitious curriculum, we provide a wide range of enriching opportunities that help our pupils develop new skills and experiences.
Our pupils benefit from:
- Weekly Forest School sessions delivered by our trained staff, helping children develop confidence, resilience and a love of the natural world.
- Weekly swimming lessons, providing valuable life skills and promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Weekly music lessons from specialist peripatetic teachers from Durham Music Service, enabling children to explore their musical talents and develop a lifelong appreciation of music.
- A wide range of after-school clubs, including sports, arts, music and outdoor activities, allowing children to discover new interests, develop talents and build friendships.
We are passionate about ensuring that every child has access to high-quality learning experiences that broaden horizons, raise aspirations and prepare them for the future.
Whether you are a prospective parent, a current member of our school community or simply interested in learning more about our schools, I hope our website gives you a flavour of what makes the Durham Dales Partnership such a special place to learn, grow and succeed.
Richard Sains
Executive Headteacher
Durham Dales Partnership
