Barnwell Academy

Barnwell Academy at a glance

Located in Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, Barnwell Academy is a primary school, classified by the DfE as a converter academy. The school educates roughly 317 pupils aged 3 to 11. Ofsted judged the school to be 'Outstanding' at its most recent inspection. In the most recent Key Stage 2 SATs, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — broadly in line with the national average of 61%. That is down 24.0 percentage points in the proportion reaching the expected standard on the previous year. On our composite score, which combines the DfE attainment measures above, this places it around the middle of primary schools nationally.

Pupils achieved an average scaled score of 103 in reading and 104 in maths (national averages are about 105 and 104). 6% reached the higher standard across all three subjects (around 8% do so nationally). Competition for places is real here - 62% of first-choice applicants were offered a Reception place for September 2026 (48 first choices for 30 places). Overall pupil absence was 4.1%. There are about 29.9 pupils per teacher. Given the recent dip in results, it may be worth asking the school what is behind the change and what is being done in response. This overview is generated automatically from the latest published DfE performance tables and Ofsted data; figures are rounded, and you can check the originals via the official links above.