SchoolScoresBurnside Academy Inspires
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of INSPIRE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Burnside Estate, Houghton le Spring, DH4 5HB
0191 512 0466 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 September 2014. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Houghton le Spring comparisons use the 10 of its 18 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Houghton le Spring | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 89% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 11 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 45% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 82% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 30% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 8%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Houghton le Spring figures pool parents at the Houghton le Spring schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
14 pupils in this year group.
57% — 9 points below the Sunderland average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 57% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 64% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 57% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 57% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 97 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Sunderland. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 21 |
| Of those, offered a place | 21 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 46 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 47.5% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 32.5% | 17.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.6% | 8.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 56% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 82% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 13.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 9th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 41% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.9 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 93% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 14.2 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 26% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 12.2%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Newbottle Primary Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bernard Gilpin Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dubmire Primary 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gillas Lane Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 15% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodlea Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shiney Row Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Eppleton Academy Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- East Rainton Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bournmoor Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Burnside Academy Inspires's Ofsted rating?
Burnside Academy Inspires was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 September 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Burnside Academy Inspires do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Burnside Academy Inspires?
85% of the 13 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Burnside Academy Inspires to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Burnside Academy Inspires oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 21 families put Burnside Academy Inspires as their first choice for 22 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 21 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 142996.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.