SchoolScoresPortobello Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Tamerton Drive, Birtley, Chester le Street, DH3 2LY
0191 410 4571 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 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 26 October 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
29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Chester le Street comparisons use the 13 of its 18 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 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 | Chester le Street | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chester le Street. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 96% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chester le Street. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 97% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 8th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chester le Street. Higher than 44% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 92% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 21 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chester le Street. Higher than 95% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 84% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chester le Street. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 93% | 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. Chester le Street figures pool parents at the Chester le Street 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
31 pupils in this year group.
71% — 7 points above the Gateshead average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 81% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 Gateshead. 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 30 |
| Of those, offered a place | 30 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 73 |
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 | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 13th highest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.1% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Higher than 47% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.8% | 16.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 14.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Lower than 71% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 4.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Lower than 44% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 10.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 10th highest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Higher than 45% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.2 | 20.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 6th highest of 18 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Higher than 89% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.6 | 11.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 11th highest of 16 state primary schools in Chester le Street. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 10.4%* | 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
- Barley Mow Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ravensworth Terrace Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holley Park Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2024
- Rickleton Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lambton Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oxclose Primary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Birtley East Community Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Portobello Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Portobello Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 February 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 26 October 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Portobello Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Portobello Primary School?
100% of the 29 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Portobello Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Portobello Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 30 families put Portobello Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 30 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 108336.
- 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.