SchoolScoresMarsden Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Mill Lane, Whitburn, Sunderland, SR6 7HJ
0191 529 2040 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 February 2014.
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 |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 21 September 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Sunderland comparisons use the 25 of its 50 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 25 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 | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 20th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 95% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 19th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 4th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 73% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 91% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 17 parents who had raised a concern Joint 3rd highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 86% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 83% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 12th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Sunderland figures pool parents at the Sunderland 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
28 pupils in this year group.
67% — 5 points above the South Tyneside average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 15% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 82% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 82% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 104 | 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 South Tyneside. 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 | 53 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 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 | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 26th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 66% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 29.8% | 36.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 39th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 2.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.7% | 19.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 49th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 7.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 25th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 17th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 13.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 24th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 51% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.7 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 35th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 48% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.6 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 31st highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 39% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 8.7%* | 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
- Whitburn Village Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Harton Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cleadon CofE Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Seaburn Dene Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ridgeway Primary Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 3 needs attention · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, South Shields 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fulwell Junior School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 exceptional, 5 strong · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fulwell Infant School Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Sea View Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Marsden Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Marsden Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 February 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 21 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Marsden Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Marsden Primary School?
92% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Marsden Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Marsden Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 21 families put Marsden Primary School 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 108687.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.