Rift House Primary School

Rift House Primary School is performing well, achieving a good overall effectiveness rating in its recent inspection. The school is known for its inclusive environment and strong relationships between staff and pupils. It implements a curriculum aimed at ensuring all students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), reach their full potential. Despite the challenges posed by an increasing number of pupils with complex needs, the school has shown dedication to supporting their learning journey and preparing them for future steps. The leadership and management of the school stand out as outstanding, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development among staff.

Strengths

• Warm and positive relationships between staff and pupils
• Ambitious curriculum that supports individual potential
• Strong emphasis on personal development and well-being
• Effective support for pupils with SEND
• High-quality leadership and management
• Commitment to staff professional development

Areas for Improvement

• Some weaknesses in checking pupils' knowledge across all subjects
• The early years curriculum does not consistently meet the needs of all children

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 Rift House Primary School attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 25.9% 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 Rift House 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 Rift House Primary School had 19.2 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, 22.0% of pupils at Rift House Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.8% 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 Rift House Primary School received £9,222 and spent £9,408 for each of its 230 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £33,000 (£142 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 Hartlepool · Hartlepool local authority: places and applications

What is Rift House Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Rift House Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Rift House Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Rift House Primary School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Rift House Primary School have?

Rift House Primary School has 254 pupils on roll.

What age range does Rift House Primary School cover?

Rift House Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

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

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Rift House Primary School?

Rift House Primary School is at Masefield Road, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS25 4JY.