Whinney Banks Primary School

Whinney Banks Primary is a happy, inclusive community school where pupils feel safe and proud, and where warm relationships underpin strong behaviour and achievement. Since the previous inspection, leaders have improved the curriculum so that pupils build knowledge securely over time, and reading is a particular priority: phonics is well taught, pupils develop a love of reading, and those needing extra help are identified and supported effectively. Early years provision is a standout feature, with a rich curriculum, strong language development and clear routines. Pupils benefit from wide enrichment and personal development opportunities, attendance is generally positive, and safeguarding is effective. Leaders have an accurate view of the school and staff feel valued and supported. The school is very inclusive and meets the needs of pupils with SEND well. The main area for further improvement is that checks on pupils’ learning and recall are not equally well developed across all subjects; in some subjects, teaching does not identify and address gaps in understanding as sharply as elsewhere. This is a community primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11, with provision for two-year-olds and use of registered alternative provisions for a small number of pupils; it was inspected under the current framework, which does not give an overall effectiveness grade.

Strengths

• Warm, supportive relationships help pupils feel happy and safe
• Pupils are proud of their school and engage enthusiastically
• High expectations for behaviour and progress are met
• Pupils typically achieve well across the curriculum
• Behaviour is positive and respectful, with appropriate support when needed
• Enrichment trips and clubs bring learning to life and nurture interests
• The curriculum is well sequenced so pupils build knowledge over time
• Reading is a high priority, with well-trained phonics staff
• Pupils develop a love of reading and read books matched to their phonics knowledge
• Pupils with SEND are identified accurately and supported effectively
• Early years provision offers a rich curriculum and strong language development
• Personal development prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain
• Attendance is supported effectively through pastoral work with families
• Leaders have an accurate view of the school and staff feel valued
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Checks on pupils’ learning are less developed in some subjects than others
• In those subjects, teaching does not identify and address gaps in understanding as well as elsewhere

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 Whinney Banks Primary School attended 93.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 22.7% 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, 0.9% of pupils at Whinney Banks 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 Whinney Banks Primary School had 19.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.6% 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, 16.0% of pupils at Whinney Banks Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.3% 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 Whinney Banks Primary School received £7,521 and spent £7,474 for each of its 422 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £27,000 (£65 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

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What is Whinney Banks Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whinney Banks Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.

When was Whinney Banks Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Whinney Banks Primary School was last inspected in September 2025.

How many pupils does Whinney Banks Primary School have?

Whinney Banks Primary School has 443 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whinney Banks Primary School cover?

Whinney Banks Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

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

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Whinney Banks Primary School?

Whinney Banks Primary School is at Fakenham Avenue, Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, TS5 4QQ.