East Rainton Primary School

East Rainton Primary School has demonstrated that it continues to be a good school, with a strong connection to the local community evidenced by recent events such as the school's 90th birthday celebration. The school offers a well-rounded curriculum, supported by experienced staff, enabling pupils to achieve commendably. The commitment to personal development is reflected in pupils' involvement in charity work and a culture that actively discourages racism. A positive dynamic exists between families and the school, with parents expressing appreciation for the attention given to their children. Despite these strengths, there are areas identified for improvement, particularly regarding the phonics instruction and early years provision. While initiatives to enhance reading capabilities have shown promise, there is a noted need for further emphasis on helping pupils develop fluency in recognizing letters and sounds. Leaders are proactively addressing these issues, and the overall sentiment within the school community remains positive as they strive toward continuous improvement.

Strengths

• Strong community involvement and support for local causes
• Broad and well-taught curriculum that fosters pupil achievement
• High engagement in arts, sports, and music among pupils
• Effective use of assessment to identify and address learning gaps
• Strong focus on supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• Positive behaviour culture with implemented new strategies to enhance learning environment

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent emphasis on phonics instruction, affecting reading fluency
• Some early years activities do not effectively support learning expectations

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 East Rainton Primary School attended 96.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.5% 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, 1.8% of pupils at East Rainton 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 East Rainton Primary School had 16.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 16.8% of pupils at East Rainton Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.0% 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 East Rainton Primary School received £9,360 and spent £9,652 for each of its 100 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £20,000 (£202 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 Houghton Le Spring · Sunderland local authority: places and applications

What is East Rainton Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for East Rainton Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was East Rainton Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

East Rainton Primary School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does East Rainton Primary School have?

East Rainton Primary School has 101 pupils on roll.

What age range does East Rainton Primary School cover?

East Rainton Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are East Rainton Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is East Rainton Primary School?

East Rainton Primary School is at School Road, East Rainton, Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH5 9RA.