Whitley Lodge First School

Whitley Lodge First School is a community school that has been judged to reach a strong standard in every area of its work. Pupils achieve consistently well, with national test outcomes typically above national averages and improving over time. Attendance is well above national averages for all pupil groups, and behaviour is exemplary, with pupils showing courtesy and respect. The school is highly inclusive, and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged are well supported to participate fully and achieve well.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve consistently well across the curriculum, with national test outcomes above national averages and improving over time
• Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, attend school very well with attendance above national averages
• Pupils' behaviour is exemplary, calm and courteous, with no disruption to learning
• Leaders have designed a highly aspirational and broad curriculum that prioritises essential foundations
• Teaching is consistently effective, with teachers using assessment skilfully to address misconceptions
• The early years curriculum is highly effective, ensuring children make rapid progress from their starting points
• Inclusion is a strength, with high expectations and tailored support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
• Leadership and governance are strong, with leaders acting in the best interests of pupils and governors providing effective support and challenge
• The personal development programme is extensive and tailored to the local context, with a rich range of wider opportunities
• Pastoral support is highly effective and pupils feel safe and well cared for

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 Whitley Lodge First School attended 97.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 0.6% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Whitley Lodge First 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 Whitley Lodge First School had 20.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.1% 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, 8.4% of pupils at Whitley Lodge First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.4% 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 Whitley Lodge First School received £6,768 and spent £6,862 for each of its 229 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £31,000 (-£135 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 Whitley Bay · North Tyneside local authority: places and applications

What is Whitley Lodge First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whitley Lodge First School is Strong standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Whitley Lodge First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Whitley Lodge First School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Whitley Lodge First School have?

Whitley Lodge First School has 250 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whitley Lodge First School cover?

Whitley Lodge First School for pupils aged 3 to 9.

Where is Whitley Lodge First School?

Whitley Lodge First School is at Woodburn Drive, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 3HW.