SchoolScoresThomas Walling Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST
Lindfield Avenue, Blakelaw, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE5 3PL
0191 286 0333 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 May 2021.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 January 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
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne comparisons use the 56 of its 104 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 48 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 | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 34th highest of 56 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 51st highest of 56 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 48th highest of 56 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 92% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 34th highest of 39 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 17% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 40% | 56% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 21 parents who had raised a concern Joint 42nd highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 30% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 84% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND 5th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 83% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 83% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 40th highest of 56 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 6%). 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. Newcastle-upon-Tyne figures pool parents at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne 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
53 pupils in this year group.
77% — 11 points above the Newcastle upon Tyne average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Newcastle upon Tyne | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 77% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 89% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 83% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 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 Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 | 55 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 45 |
| Of those, offered a place | 45 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 70 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
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 | Newcastle upon Tyne | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 14th highest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 66.0% | 42.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 50th highest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 47% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 33rd highest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.5% | 16.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 22nd highest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 35.5% | 29.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 76th lowest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Lower than 27% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 73rd lowest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Lower than 29% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.8% | 14.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 53rd lowest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 57th lowest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 66th highest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 39% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.7 | 20.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 82nd highest of 104 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 25% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.3 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 67th highest of 101 state primary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Higher than 37% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 13.3%* | 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
- Hilton Primary Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, Fenham 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stocksfield Avenue Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Farne Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beech Hill Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kenton Bar Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cheviot Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School, Kenton 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), improved significantly 2025 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mark's Catholic Primary School, Westerhope 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thomas Walling Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Thomas Walling Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 May 2021. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Thomas Walling Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Thomas Walling Primary Academy?
88% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Thomas Walling Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thomas Walling Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 45 families put Thomas Walling Primary Academy as their first choice for 55 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 45 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 140788.
- 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.