SchoolScoresSt Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Part of BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Durham Road, St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton le Spring, DH5 8NF
0191 584 0542 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 23 June 2026 , published 16 July 2026.
In short: 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
87% — 21 points above the Sunderland average, and 25 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 87% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 97% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 87% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 97% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 111 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 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 | 24 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 24 |
| Of those, offered a place | 24 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 39 |
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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 17th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 17.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 8.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 93% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.4% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 83% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 13.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 12th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.5 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 88% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.4 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 91% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.9 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 6th highest of 18 state primary schools in Houghton le Spring. Higher than 51% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 12.7% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Bernard Gilpin Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gillas Lane Primary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 15% met expected standard (KS2)
- Burnside Academy Inspires 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Eppleton Academy Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- East Rainton Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dubmire Primary 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newbottle Primary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hetton Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hetton Lyons Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodlea Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton's Ofsted rating?
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 23 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 25 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 24 families put St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton as their first choice for 24 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 24 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 147131.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.