SchoolScoresNew Penshaw Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of INSPIRE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Langdale Road, New Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7HY
0191 385 4298 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 February 2019.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 28 June 2024: 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
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 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 9th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 12% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 6th 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. | 92% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 9th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 89% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 9th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69%said yes | 87% | 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. 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
24 pupils in this year group.
58% — 8 points below the Sunderland average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 58% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 67% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 58% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 63% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 18 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 13 |
| Of those, offered a place | 13 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 31 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 10 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 48.7% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 15th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.7% | 17.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 6th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 8.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 18th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 6% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.6% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 17th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 8% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 22.7% | 13.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 17th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 5% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 13.6 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 16th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 23% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.1 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 87% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 27.7% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Barnwell Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Penshaw 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shiney Row Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fatfield Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bournmoor Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- John F Kennedy Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newbottle Primary Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Biddick Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barmston Village Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Grindon Infant School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is New Penshaw Academy's Ofsted rating?
New Penshaw Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 February 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 28 June 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did New Penshaw Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend New Penshaw Academy?
69% of the 13 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend New Penshaw Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is New Penshaw Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put New Penshaw Academy as their first choice for 18 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 13 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 139391.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 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.