Blackfell Primary School

Blackfell Primary School is performing well overall, with pupils achieving broadly in line with national averages in key subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics by the end of key stage 2. Disadvantaged pupils particularly benefit from the school's targeted support, allowing them to achieve well despite any barriers they may face. The school's commitment to safeguarding is strong, ensuring that pupils feel safe and secure in their learning environment. However, some areas still require attention, particularly in early years provision and phonics knowledge in key stage 1, where a few gaps need addressing for students to catch up effectively.

Strengths

• Strong focus on safeguarding ensuring pupils feel safe
• Effective support for disadvantaged pupils resulting in better achievement
• Improvement in handwriting, spelling, and grammar across the school
• Positive attendance strategies that have improved overall attendance
• Pupils enjoy a well-sequenced curriculum with particular enthusiasm for science
• Leaders prioritize inclusion and support for SEND pupils well

Areas for Improvement

• Gaps in phonics knowledge for some key stage 1 pupils
• Early years curriculum does not provide enough independent learning opportunities
• Teaching does not always address misconceptions quickly

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 Blackfell Primary School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.0% 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 Blackfell 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 Blackfell Primary School had 16.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 26.7% 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, 22.5% of pupils at Blackfell Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 Blackfell Primary School received £9,048 and spent £8,595 for each of its 138 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £79,000 (£574 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 Washington · Sunderland local authority: places and applications

What is Blackfell Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Blackfell Primary School is Needs attention, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Blackfell Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Blackfell Primary School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Blackfell Primary School have?

Blackfell Primary School has 142 pupils on roll.

What age range does Blackfell Primary School cover?

Blackfell Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Blackfell Primary School?

Blackfell Primary School is at Knoulberry, Blackfell, Knoulberry Washington, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE37 1HA.