Kibblesworth Academy Review 2026: High KS2 outcomes in a small Gateshead village primary with a full-time nursery

Small schools often win families over through relationships rather than scale. Here, the benefit is that pupils can be known well across Nursery to Year 6, while expectations remain ambitious. The most recent published KS2 results are unusually strong, including a high proportion reaching the higher standard, and the school sits well above the England picture on the core combined measures.

Leadership continuity is another anchor. Mr Craig Steel is named as headteacher, and governance records indicate he has been in post since January 2016, following a period as acting headteacher earlier in that year.

This is a state-funded primary with no tuition fees. Families should still expect the usual costs for uniform and enrichment, plus optional wraparound care. A notable practical detail is the early start option, with breakfast club available from 07:45 during term time.

The defining feel is that of a village school that takes its role seriously. Pupils are expected to behave well, treat each other with respect, and contribute to the wider life of the setting rather than simply “attend lessons”. That expectation shows up in leadership opportunities, pupil voice, and the way routines begin in early years and carry through the school.

The latest Ofsted inspection, completed on 06 and 07 December 2022, confirmed that the school continues to be Good.

There is strong emphasis on reading as a shared culture, not just a subject. The same is true of maths, where teaching is organised to help pupils retain and use knowledge securely, rather than rush on to the next unit. The atmosphere described in official reporting aligns with a calm, orderly day where pupils feel safe and bullying is rare. Ofsted also confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Nursery provision is a meaningful part of the school’s identity, with early reading and early maths mapped deliberately from Nursery onwards. The implication for families is continuity, particularly for children who benefit from stable routines and familiar adults across the early years.

On KS2 outcomes, the most recent published data places this school comfortably above the England average across the key benchmarks.

• Reading, writing and maths combined (expected standard): 88.67%, compared with an England average of 62%.

• Higher standard (greater depth) in reading, writing and maths combined: 36.67%, compared with an England average of 8%.

• Scaled scores are strong, with reading 109, maths 108, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 110.

Rankings reinforce the picture. Ranked 968th in England and 3rd in Gateshead for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

Implication for parents: for children who respond well to structured teaching and clear routines, these outcomes suggest that the basics are taught with consistency, and that higher-attaining pupils are also being stretched rather than simply “kept busy”.

Teaching strength here is best understood as coherence. Early reading starts in Nursery and is taught through a consistent approach, with staff checking for gaps and responding quickly when pupils fall behind. The evidence points to systematic phonics, regular assessment to pick up misconceptions, and deliberate opportunities for pupils to apply knowledge rather than memorise it temporarily.

In maths, the emphasis is on retention and secure understanding. Retrieval work and suitable apparatus are used so that pupils can grasp concepts properly before moving on. The practical implication is that pupils are less likely to develop “fragile” knowledge that unravels later, which matters when secondary transition brings faster pacing.

A further theme is breadth with purpose. Art and dance are mentioned as areas where pupils have well-thought-through opportunities, and partnerships with organisations such as The Glasshouse (formerly Sage Gateshead), the Royal Opera House, and English National Ballet have been used to widen horizons.

As a Gateshead primary, the typical route is into local secondary provision, with the practical next-step being to understand catchment arrangements rather than assume a “feeder” guarantee.

For many local families, the linked secondary catchment for this primary group is Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy, although Gateshead’s own guidance is clear that linked arrangements do not guarantee a secondary place.

For parents planning ahead, this is a good moment to use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check distances and likely travel time to shortlisted secondaries, then revisit options annually as cohorts and boundaries can shift.

Nursery admissions are managed directly by the school, rather than through the local authority’s coordinated reception system. Gateshead’s published guidance is straightforward: to apply for a nursery place in a Gateshead school nursery, families should contact the school directly for procedures.

Reception to Year 6 places are part of Gateshead’s coordinated primary admissions process. For September 2026 Reception entry, the key dates published by Gateshead include:

• Online system live from 08 September 2025

• Closing date 15 January 2026

• Offers issued 16 April 2026

Demand indicators in the most recent admissions snapshot show a modest level of competition at the entry point measured, with 25 applications and 21 offers, and an oversubscribed status. The implication is that places can be competitive in some years, but the pressure is not on the scale seen in high-density urban catchments.

A critical nursery-to-reception point is worth stating plainly. Attendance at a nursery does not guarantee a reception place at the same school under Gateshead’s published guidance, so families who want continuity should still prioritise submitting the reception application on time.

Pastoral strength here is built around routine, clear expectations, and early habit formation. Children in early years are taught school routines carefully, and expectations remain consistent into Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. The practical outcome is calmer classrooms and fewer low-level disruptions, which tends to benefit both anxious learners and pupils who want to get on with the work.

Safeguarding culture includes clear mechanisms for pupils to raise concerns. The school’s approach to online safety is positioned as part of the taught curriculum rather than a one-off assembly theme.

Enrichment looks purposeful rather than token. The curriculum has been supported by external cultural links, with pupils’ experiences broadened through relationships with major arts organisations. That sort of input is most valuable when it is built into planned learning and revisited, which matches the way the wider curriculum is described.

On the co-curricular side, specific examples include American Flag Football Club, and a wider programme of before and after school clubs is part of the pupil experience.

Nursery and early years also benefit from enrichment when it is delivered in an age-appropriate way. The implication for families is that early confidence, language development, and social skills are supported through structured activity rather than left entirely to free play.

The school day has a clear structure. Breakfast club starts at 07:45 and the main day includes a soft start from 08:45, with registration at 09:00 and the compulsory day ending at 15:30.

Wraparound care is available. Breakfast club is charged at £4.50 per child, per day; after school club sessions are also listed with charges, with provision running beyond 15:30.

For transport, most families will be driving, walking, or using local buses through the village and nearby routes into Gateshead. Where travel time is a deciding factor, check timings at drop-off and pick-up, as rural and village traffic patterns can vary by season.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. Gateshead’s admissions guidance is explicit that a nursery place does not secure a reception place, so parents should plan for a separate reception application and submit it on time.

• Small-school trade-off. A smaller roll can mean strong relationships and quicker communication, but fewer friendship groups per year. This suits many children; a minority prefer a larger peer pool.

• Strong outcomes can raise expectations. High KS2 results often come with structured teaching and a focus on routines. Children who prefer more open-ended approaches may need time to settle into the style.

• Extras still add up. While there are no tuition fees, wraparound care, trips, and clubs can create meaningful costs across the year.

Kibblesworth Academy suits families who want a close-knit primary and nursery in a village setting, with clear routines and outcomes that stand well above England averages at KS2. The combination of consistent early reading, strong maths, and meaningful cultural enrichment should appeal to children who do well with structure and encouragement.

Who it suits: families seeking a state-funded primary with a full-time nursery, strong core outcomes, and wraparound care that supports working patterns. The main challenge, in some years, is that admissions can tip into oversubscription, so it is sensible to treat deadlines as non-negotiable.