SchoolScoresSt Paul's CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Waterworks Road, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0LW
0191 521 0055 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 28 November 2018.
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 | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 April 2025: 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
86 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
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 15th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 18th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 18th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied 12th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 8% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 32% | 52% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 68 parents who had raised a concern Joint 16th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 42% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 83% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 23 parents of children with SEND 5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 27% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 61% | 75% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 16th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 27%). 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
32 pupils in this year group.
88% — 22 points above the Sunderland average, and 26 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 88% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 19% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 97% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 88% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 97% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 45 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 68 |
| Of those, offered a place | 44 (65%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 111 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.5
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 Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 38th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.9% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.1% | 17.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 37th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 8.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 73% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.2% | 13.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 22nd lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 30th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 51% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.32% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 26th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 41% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.9 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 31st highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 57% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.1 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 35th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 29% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 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
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Ryhope 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ryhope Junior School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 2 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ryhope Infant School Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2022
- St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- New Silksworth Academy Infant 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed, may be improving 2024
- New Silksworth Academy Junior 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hill View Infant Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Mill Hill Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hill View Junior Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- New Seaham Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 94% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Paul's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Paul's CofE Primary School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 November 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Paul's CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 88% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 26 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Paul's CofE Primary School?
88% of the 86 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Paul's CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Paul's CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 68 families put St Paul's CofE Primary School as their first choice for 45 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 44 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 108836.
- 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.