Washingwell Community Primary School

Washingwell Community Primary School is a friendly, inclusive and happy school where pupils feel safe and behave well. Inspectors found strong provision across the curriculum, early years, personal development and leadership, with pupils showing high aspirations, positive attitudes and good attendance. Reading and phonics are a particular priority and are taught consistently, and pupils with SEND are well supported so they can access learning alongside their peers. The curriculum is generally well designed and builds pupils’ knowledge, and children in early years benefit from a well-planned curriculum focused on vocabulary and speaking. Pupils enjoy a wide range of clubs, visits and responsibilities that develop their independence and sense of citizenship. Staff morale is strong, parents are supportive, and governors have a good understanding of the school’s strengths and priorities. The main area for improvement is that in a small number of subjects the essential knowledge pupils need to learn has not been identified precisely enough. As a result, some pupils do not consistently recall key learning or connect new ideas to what they already know. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and, under the current framework, no overall effectiveness grade was given.

Strengths

• Friendly, inclusive and happy school where pupils feel safe and look after each other
• High expectations and aspirations for pupils, with positive attitudes to learning
• Good behaviour in lessons and around school, supported by clear values and routines
• Engaging curriculum that builds basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics
• Strong phonics and early reading provision, with books well matched to pupils’ phonics knowledge
• Effective support for pupils with SEND, including adapted lessons and targeted adult help
• Well-planned early years curriculum focused on vocabulary and speaking skills
• Pupils benefit from clubs, visits, residentials and roles of responsibility
• Strong staff morale, teamwork and support for early career teachers
• Supportive parents and governors with a good understanding of the school’s strengths and areas to develop

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of subjects, essential knowledge is not identified sharply enough, so pupils do not consistently recall learning or make connections.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Washingwell Community Primary School attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.1% of pupils at Washingwell Community Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Washingwell Community Primary School had 22.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 17.7% of pupils at Washingwell Community Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Washingwell Community Primary School received £6,966 and spent £7,633 for each of its 180 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £135,000 (-£754 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne · Gateshead local authority: places and applications

What is Washingwell Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Washingwell Community Primary School is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Washingwell Community Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Washingwell Community Primary School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Washingwell Community Primary School have?

Washingwell Community Primary School has 181 pupils on roll.

What age range does Washingwell Community Primary School cover?

Washingwell Community Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Washingwell Community Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Washingwell Community Primary School?

Washingwell Community Primary School is at Bucks Hill View, Whickham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE16 4RB.