Biddick Hall Infants' School
Biddick Hall Infants' School is a community school in South Shields for pupils aged 3 to 7. It has 219 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Biddick Hall Infants' School is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.
Ofsted inspection: December 2022.
| Type | Primary / Community school |
| Age Range | 3-7 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Galsworthy Road Biddick Hall County Infant School South Shields Tyne and Wear NE34 9JD |
| Reference Number | 108682 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 219 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 43.84%
Girls: 56.16% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 62% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 7.3% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 26.7 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 27.7 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | 38 | 59 |
| 2 | 26 | 27 | 53 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 88.1% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.3% |
| Indian | 1.4% |
| Unclassified | 1.4% |
| African | 1.4% |
| White, Other | 0.9% |
| White & Asian | 0.9% |
| Pakistani | 0.9% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.5% |
Biddick Hall Infants’ School continues to maintain its status as a good school with an ambitious curriculum that considers the needs of its pupils. The school fosters a caring environment where students feel safe and valued, reflected in their positive behavior and engagement with learning. Notable strengths include effective phonics instruction and a vibrant reading culture that encourages literacy and appreciation for diverse texts. Additionally, the school supports pupils with special educational needs well, providing tailored resources to enhance their educational experience. While the school demonstrates several strengths, there are areas for improvement regarding the alignment of lesson activities with learning objectives. Some tasks assigned to pupils do not adequately correspond to the subject matter, impacting the quality of learning in certain areas. Ensuring that all educators focus sharply on lesson expectations and student outcomes will be crucial for the continued growth of the school's educational standards.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 03 Nov 2022 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 03 Nov 2022 | School inspection |
| 01 Dec 2020 | Monitoring visit |
| 18 Jul 2017 | Short inspection |
| 19 Jun 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 13 Jan 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 12 Oct 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 27 May 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong focus on pupil safety and emotional well-being
- Effective phonics program supporting early reading
- Positive reading culture and investment in diverse quality texts
- Well-supported provision for pupils with special educational needs
- Ambitious curriculum with rich experiences for pupils
- Opportunities for pupils to engage in extra-curricular activities
Areas for Improvement
- Some lesson activities do not align with learning objectives
- Assessment of pupil progress in certain subjects is not accurate
Reception admissions, 2026 entry
Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 10 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 3 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 Biddick Hall Infants' School had 165 pupils for 180 places. 15 places (8.3%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “South Shields West” planning area
South Tyneside counted 287 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 315 in 2029–30, up 10%.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Places | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Pupils | 177 | 177 | 170 | 172 | 177 | 177 | 173 | 166 | 165 | 164 | 178 | 172 | 171 | 172 | 165 |
| Unfilled | 1.7% | 1.7% | 5.6% | 4.4% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 3.9% | 7.8% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 1.1% | 4.4% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 8.3% |
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 Biddick Hall Infants' School attended 95.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.6% |
| Unauthorised absence | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.9% |
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 Biddick Hall Infants' School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 Biddick Hall Infants' School had 19.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 11.1 | 11.7 | 12.6 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 11.1 | 8.9 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.4 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 11.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.5% | 0.0% | 20.8% | 16.5% | 12.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 11.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.1% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 60.0% | 55.6% | 66.7% | 50.0% | 33.3% | 70.0% | 10.0% | 55.6% | 62.5% | – | 22.2% | 66.7% | 64.3% | 36.4% | 50.0% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 1.6 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 6.4 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 1.5 | – | 0.3 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 12.2 | 1.9 | – |
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, 26.9% of pupils at Biddick Hall Infants' School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 24 | 7 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 18 | 0 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 12 | 0 |
| Hearing impairment | 3 | 0 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 1 | 0 |
| Physical disability | 1 | 0 |
| Severe learning difficulty | 0 | 1 |
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 Biddick Hall Infants' School received £9,212 and spent £9,401 for each of its 199 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £21,000 (£107 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £82,000 | £63,000 | £182,000 | £265,000 | £111,000 | £152,000 | £59,000 | £21,000 |
| per pupil | £403 | £305 | £837 | £1,263 | £523 | £718 | £290 | £107 |
| In-year balance | £31,000 | -£19,000 | £119,000 | £83,000 | -£154,000 | £41,000 | -£93,000 | -£38,000 |
| per pupil | £152 | -£92 | £546 | £394 | -£728 | £193 | -£456 | -£189 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
Biddick Hall Junior School
Chesterton Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 9SP |
0.31 miles |
|
Monkton Infants' School
St Simon Street, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 9SD |
0.33 miles |
|
Holy Trinity Church of England Academy (South Shields)
Brockley Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 0TS |
0.49 miles |
|
Monkton Academy
Dame Flora Robson Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 9RD |
0.53 miles |
|
Lord Blyton Primary School
Blyton Avenue, Simonside, Lord Blyton School, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 9BN |
0.69 miles |
|
Forest View Primary
Rembrandt Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 8RZ |
0.75 miles |
|
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields
Nash Avenue, Whiteleas, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 8NS |
0.83 miles |
|
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Ayr Drive, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, NE32 4AW |
0.9 miles |
|
Simonside Primary School
Glasgow Road, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, NE32 4AU |
0.92 miles |
|
Boldon Nursery School
Reginald Street, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9DG |
0.98 miles |
|
West Boldon Primary School
Hindmarch Drive, West Boldon, Boldon, Tyne and Wear, NE36 0HX |
1 miles |
|
SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, South Shields
Olive Street, South Shields, NE33 4RH |
1 miles |
|
Hedworth Lane Primary School
Hedworth Lane, Boldon Colliery, Tyne and Wear, NE35 9JB |
1.11 miles |
|
Helen Gibson Nursery School
North Lane, East Boldon, NE36 0DL |
1.2 miles |
|
East Boldon Junior School
North Lane, North Road, Tyne & Wear, Tyne and Wear, NE36 0DL |
1.26 miles |
|
Hedworthfield Primary School
Linkway, Hedworth Estate, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, NE32 4QF |
1.26 miles |
|
Stanhope Primary School
Gresford Street, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 4SZ |
1.27 miles |
|
Ashley Academy
Temple Park Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 0QA |
1.33 miles |
|
East Boldon Infants' School
Front Street, East Boldon, Tyne and Wear, NE36 0SW |
1.35 miles |
|
Ridgeway Primary Academy
Park Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 8AB |
1.45 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Boldon School
New Road, Boldon Colliery, Tyne and Wear, NE35 9DZ |
0.75 miles |
|
St Wilfrid's RC College
Temple Park Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 0QA |
1.23 miles |
|
Epinay Business and Enterprise School
Nevinson Avenue, South Shields, NE34 8BT |
1.27 miles |
|
Park View School
Temple Park Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 0QA |
1.35 miles |
|
Mortimer Community College
Reading Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 4UG |
1.63 miles |
|
Jarrow School
Field Terrace, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, NE32 5PR |
1.77 miles |
|
Harton Academy
Lisle Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 6DL |
1.91 miles |
|
Tyne Coast College
St George's Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 6ET |
2.07 miles |
|
Harry Watts Academy
Ramillies Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 5JA |
2.32 miles |
|
Red House Academy
Rutherglen Road, Red House Estate, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 5LN |
2.47 miles |
|
Bamburgh School
Norham Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 7TD |
2.49 miles |
|
Trinity Academy New Bridge
Craigshaw Road, Sunderland, SR5 3NF |
2.54 miles |
|
Keelman's Way School
Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 1QY |
2.57 miles |
|
Hebburn Comprehensive School
Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 2QU |
2.58 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Academy
Mill Lane, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 2ET |
2.94 miles |
|
Castle View Enterprise Academy
Cartwright Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 3DX |
2.96 miles |
|
Monkwearmouth Academy
Torver Crescent, Seaburn Dene, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR6 8LG |
2.99 miles |
|
Norham High School
Alnwick Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 7BU |
3.24 miles |
|
Whitburn Church of England Academy
Whitburn, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR6 7EF |
3.37 miles |
|
Burnside College
St Peter's Road, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, NE28 7LQ |
3.66 miles |
All schools in South Shields · South Tyneside local authority: places and applications
What is Biddick Hall Infants' School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Biddick Hall Infants' School is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.
When was Biddick Hall Infants' School last inspected by Ofsted?
Biddick Hall Infants' School was last inspected in December 2022.
How many pupils does Biddick Hall Infants' School have?
Biddick Hall Infants' School has 219 pupils on roll.
What age range does Biddick Hall Infants' School cover?
Biddick Hall Infants' School for pupils aged 3 to 7.
Where is Biddick Hall Infants' School?
Biddick Hall Infants' School is at Galsworthy Road, Biddick Hall County Infant School, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 9JD.