Larkspur Community Primary School Review 2026: Calm routines, strong KS2 outcomes, and a clear improvement focus

Purposeful routines and a strong emphasis on relationships are central here. The most recent inspection describes pupils who feel safe, know trusted adults, and move around school calmly, with behaviour expectations that are consistently reinforced.

Academically, the headline Key Stage 2 picture is above the England average. In 2024, 72.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 21% reached greater depth, well above the England average of 8%. Reading, maths, and GPS scaled scores are also comfortably above typical national benchmarks (reading 107, maths 106, GPS 110).

This is a mixed, state-funded primary with nursery provision, so there are no tuition fees. The school runs a breakfast club and publishes a clear daily timetable for Nursery, Reception, and Key Stages 1 and 2, which is helpful for working families trying to plan wraparound care.

The tone is structured and supportive, with explicit attention paid to emotional regulation and inclusion. A distinctive feature is the way pastoral support is described in practical, everyday terms rather than slogans. There is a lunchtime nurture space called the Larkspur Den, set up with calming activities like jigsaws, games, and arts and crafts. Alongside that sits a Calm Cabin for children who need a quieter, regulating space at break or lunchtime, with a clear aim of helping pupils return to class settled and ready to learn.

A second thread running through school life is pupil leadership. The inspection report notes that pupils take pride in roles and responsibilities, including eco champions, school councillors, sports leaders, and pupils who look after the library. That matters because leadership roles at primary level can be more than badges, they can shape confidence, speaking skills, and belonging.

Leadership is also in a relatively new phase. Katy Anglesea is the headteacher, and the inspection report states she joined the school in September 2024. In practice, this means families may see systems and expectations continue to tighten as leadership actions bed in across all classes.

For a primary school, the best single indicator to start with is combined reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2.

• Expected standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 72.67% (2024)

England average: 62%

• Higher standard (greater depth in reading, writing and maths): 21% (2024)

England average: 8%

• Average scaled scores (2024): Reading 107, Maths 106, GPS 110

These outcomes indicate pupils are, on average, leaving Year 6 with secure foundations, and a sizeable minority are working at greater depth. The higher-standard figure, in particular, suggests that stronger attainers are being stretched, not just supported to meet the baseline.

Rankings add helpful context when used carefully. Based on FindMySchool’s ranking methodology (derived from official outcomes data), Larkspur Community Primary School is ranked 2,547th in England and 8th in Gateshead for primary outcomes, placing it above the England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

When comparing local options, parents can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to see these outcomes side by side with nearby primaries, ideally alongside inspection timelines and admissions pressure.

The inspection evidence points to a mixed picture: strong intent and some clear strengths, with inconsistency between subjects and year groups as the core barrier to a fully secure, broad curriculum. Reading is described as an area where the school has built genuine momentum, with pupils talking enthusiastically about books and a culture that encourages finishing books and celebrating reading habits.

Mathematics is positioned as a deliberate improvement priority. The inspection report describes work with specialist advisers and training to strengthen how maths is taught, including in mixed-age classes, with early signs of improvement in pupils’ knowledge and skills. Where that matters for parents is simple: if your child is in a class structure that spans more than one year group, clarity and sequencing become even more important, and the school appears to be actively refining this.

Writing is the key learning area flagged for improvement. The report highlights that weaknesses in writing, particularly for pupils at early stages, can hamper readiness for later Key Stage 2 demands. For families with children in Nursery, Reception, and Key Stage 1, it is worth asking how phonics, handwriting, sentence construction, and early composition are taught and practised day to day, and how staff check that core knowledge is sticking, not just being covered.

As a state primary, most pupils will move into Gateshead secondary schools through the local authority admissions process, with the allocated option depending heavily on catchment and admissions criteria. Gateshead Council provides a catchment checker and mapping tools, which families can use to understand which secondary schools sit within their priority area.

Two practical implications follow. First, if you are buying or renting with a specific secondary in mind, it is sensible to verify catchment status early, rather than assuming proximity to the primary automatically aligns with secondary catchment. Second, Year 6 transition is usually smoother when families already understand their likely secondary pathway by early autumn, so they can focus on readiness and wellbeing rather than uncertainty.

Reception entry is handled through Gateshead’s coordinated admissions scheme, with the school signposting families to the local authority application route for September 2026 entry.

Demand indicators from the latest available admissions snapshot show 19 applications for 8 offers, with the school listed as oversubscribed for that entry route. In practical terms, even small absolute numbers can translate into real competition, especially in a community where sibling links and distance criteria can shape the final allocation.

For September 2026 entry, Gateshead’s published timeline adopts a 15 January 2026 closing date for primary applications. If you are reading this after that deadline, it is still worth checking late application guidance and in-year admissions routes through the local authority.

Parents trying to judge realistic chances should use FindMySchoolMap Search to check precise home-to-school distance and to sanity-check how competitive nearby options have been in recent years. Even where a school does not publish a “last distance offered” figure, mapping helps families understand alternatives within a manageable commute.

Pastoral support is described with a level of operational detail that is reassuring. Nurture support includes structured Friday afternoon sessions focusing on confidence, resilience and relationships, plus Thrive-informed sessions delivered by a trained member of staff. Sensory circuits are also described as part of morning readiness support for targeted pupils, which can be a meaningful lever for attention and self-regulation, particularly for children who find transitions difficult.

Safeguarding is recorded as effective in the most recent inspection documentation. That does not remove the need for parental diligence, but it does indicate that the school’s core safeguarding arrangements and culture met the expected standard at the time of inspection.

Enrichment is one of the clearer, school-specific signatures. There is a weekly enrichment model with a published set of “current opportunities” that includes computing, cooking, forest school, music, football coaching, and a structured link to New Writing North. This matters because it shows enrichment is planned and staffed, not left to ad hoc clubs.

Forest school provision is described in concrete, child-friendly specifics: a dedicated area being developed with a fire pit for activities such as toasting marshmallows and making soup, plus class-built bug hotels that pupils check for “guests”. For children who learn best through hands-on experiences, that sort of outdoor learning can be a genuine anchor point in the week.

After-school clubs are also laid out clearly, including timings and pick-up expectations. Examples listed include Movie Club, Quiz and Games, Computer Club, football, and netball, typically running 3:15pm to 4:15pm. The practical implication is that families can plan childcare around known finish times, while children can build routine and commitment through termly blocks rather than one-off sessions.

The published school day runs 08:45 to 15:15 for Reception and Years 1 to 6 (32.5 hours per week). Nursery timings are listed separately, including a soft start and session structure, and the school notes that 30 funded hours are available for eligible children.

Breakfast club is listed as running 08:00 to 08:45, with a last admission time of 08:20. After-school clubs are published as ending at 16:15 with collection at the main entrance, although this is not the same as a daily after-school care provision, so families needing consistent wraparound every day should confirm what is available beyond clubs.

• Inspection profile: The most recent graded judgements (October 2024) include Requires Improvement for quality of education and early years provision. Families with Nursery and Reception children should ask specifically how the early years curriculum is being strengthened, including adult interaction and how learning activities are adapted in the moment.

• Curriculum consistency: The inspection evidence points to uneven quality between subjects and year groups, with writing identified as a key improvement priority. If your child needs highly consistent teaching approaches across the week, ask for examples of how leaders check that teaching matches curriculum expectations in every class.

• Admissions pressure: The Reception entry route is recorded as oversubscribed in the latest admissions snapshot, with more than two applications per offer. If you are relying on a place, treat it as competitive and plan at least one realistic alternative.

• Wraparound reality: Breakfast provision is clearly stated and after-school clubs run in termly blocks. If you need a guaranteed after-school childcare solution every weekday, verify the options directly rather than assuming clubs equal wraparound care.

Larkspur Community Primary School combines warm, relationship-led pastoral systems with above-average Key Stage 2 outcomes and a clear enrichment identity, particularly around forest school, pupil leadership, and structured Friday enrichment. It also sits in an active improvement phase, especially around curriculum consistency and writing.

Who it suits: families who value a supportive, structured environment with practical pastoral tools (nurture spaces and regulation support), and who are comfortable engaging with a school that is tightening teaching consistency under relatively new leadership.