Barnwell Academy
Whitefield Estate, Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7RT
Headteacher: Mr Kristopher SadlerSchool website ↗Pupils: 317 (capacity: 210)Part of TYNE AND WEAR LEARNING TRUST
Ofsted RatingInspected 20 June 2023Full report ↗
Outstanding
From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.
Quality of Teaching
Outstanding
Behaviour in School
Outstanding
Pupils' Wider Development
Outstanding
School Leadership
Outstanding
SATs Results (2024/25)
End-of-primary-school tests taken by Year 6 pupils. National averages shown for comparison.
Reading, Writing & Maths combinedⓘReading, Writing & Maths% of pupils achieving the expected standard in all three subjects at age 11The national average is around 60%. Higher means more pupils reached the expected level.
63.0%
Exceeding expected level (Reading, Writing & Maths)ⓘHigher Standard — Reading, Writing & Maths% of pupils exceeding the expected level in all three subjectsA more demanding threshold. The national average is around 8%.
6.0%
Reading
Expected level75.0%
Exceeding19.0%
Average scoreⓘReading Average ScoreAverage scaled score in the reading test (range 80–120, average = 100)103.0
Writing
Expected level72.0%
Exceeding13.0%
Maths
Expected level81.0%
Exceeding16.0%
Average scoreⓘMaths Average ScoreAverage scaled score in the maths test (range 80–120, average = 100)104.0
How Hard to Get Into This School (2025/26)
⚠ Oversubscribed
Year 3 places per year
30
Applications received
70
Families who got their first-choice
1.5%
Pupils & Inclusion
Eligible for pupil premium
38.0%
Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
English as an additional languageⓘEnglish as an Additional Language% of pupils whose first language is not English
0.0%
Pupils receiving SEN supportⓘSEN Support% of pupils receiving SEN (Special Educational Needs) support without a formal planThese pupils need extra help but do not yet have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
31.0%
Location
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Results Over Time
Detailed year-by-year figures
| Year | Reading, Writing & Maths (expected %) | Exceeding expected (%) | Reading Progress | Writing Progress | Maths Progress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 73.0% | 13.0% | +2.4 | +3.1 | +1.8 |
| 2016/17 | 83.0% | 17.0% | +1.7 | +2.5 | +1.6 |
| 2017/18 | 71.0% | 16.0% | +1.5 | +1.3 | +1.4 |
| 2018/19 | 74.0% | 15.0% | 0.0 | +0.1 | +0.1 |
| 2022/23 | 76.0% | 17.0% | +2.1 | +2.7 | +2.8 |
| 2023/24 | 87.0% | 17.0% | - | - | - |
| 2024/25 | 63.0% | 6.0% | - | - | - |