St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, Dunston Review 2026: High-performing Catholic primary with strong wraparound care

St Philip Neri in Dunston is a Catholic primary where results are a defining feature, without the school losing sight of its parish-rooted identity. In 2024, 94% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 2, well above the England average of 62%. The higher standard figure is also striking, 37.67% compared with an England average of 8%.

It is part of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, and the headteacher is Sarah Williams. A published capacity of 210 and an Ofsted-reported roll in the mid-160s suggest a school that is sizeable enough for breadth, but still likely to feel knowable for families.

The school’s Catholic character is explicit and daily, but it is also practical and community-facing. The mission statement frames the offer around Gospel values (love, trust and respect) and celebrates achievement across the community, rather than only academic attainment. That matters because it shapes how the school talks about behaviour, belonging and service: charity work, parish links and liturgy are not treated as add-ons.

A distinctive strength is the way Catholic life is organised through pupil leadership. Mini Vinnies appears as a named group in school communications, tied to fundraising and charitable action across the year. This sort of structure tends to suit pupils who respond well to responsibility and visible roles, as well as families who value service as a lived part of school culture rather than a theme week.

The October 2023 denominational inspection graded Catholic life and mission as Outstanding, with Religious Education and Collective Worship graded Good, and the overall quality of Catholic education graded Good. The same report flags improvement priorities around consistency in prayer and liturgy skills, and around matching tasks to learning intentions in Religious Education, which is helpful context for families who want a rounded picture.

St Philip Neri’s academic profile is unusually strong for a state primary. In 2024, 94% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with 62% across England. At the higher standard, 37.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with 8% across England. Reading, mathematics and grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled scores were 109, 108 and 110 respectively.

Rankings underline that this is not a one-off cohort effect. The school ranks 886th in England and 2nd in Gateshead for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), placing it well above England average (top 10%).

A few other indicators help explain the shape of attainment. Expected standard in mathematics sits at 100% with 93% meeting expected in reading and in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Science is also high at 96% meeting the expected standard. Together, these figures suggest consistently secure basics, with a substantial proportion pushing beyond the expected threshold.

Parents comparing local options should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view nearby primaries side-by-side using the same measures, especially where cohort sizes differ and single-year swings can look dramatic.

Ofsted’s 2024 inspection activity included curriculum “deep dives” in early reading, mathematics and history, which gives a useful hint about priorities and coherence across the school. The high combined writing, reading and maths outcomes also imply that writing is being handled with structure and consistency, because writing is often the limiting factor in a school’s combined measure.

Religious Education is clearly taken seriously, but is also the area where the most specific improvement work is visible. The denominational inspection describes committed staff and positive learning relationships, while also pointing to inconsistency in challenge, vocabulary and task design in some lessons, plus the need for sharper monitoring and evaluation. For families, the implication is straightforward: the school’s direction of travel is clear, and this is likely to suit pupils who respond well to direct teaching and strong routines, while parents who want creative formats and varied recording methods in every subject may wish to ask how curriculum development has progressed since 2023.

For many families, the key question is transition into secondary. School communications show structured links with St Thomas More Catholic School, including a Year 6 visit day, which signals an intentional Catholic pathway option.

Beyond that, the likely secondary mix will depend on the Gateshead coordinated system, sibling patterns, parish connections and travel preferences. Families who want clarity should ask the school which secondaries most pupils typically move on to, and how transition is supported for pupils who choose different routes.

Reception admission is coordinated through Gateshead Council using the common application form, rather than applying directly to the school. The school is oversubscribed on the latest available demand data: 49 applications for 23 offers, which equates to about 2.13 applications per place.

As a Catholic school, priority is structured by faith and parish connection. For the September 2026 intake, the published admission number is 30, and the oversubscription criteria give priority to Catholic looked-after and previously looked-after children, then Catholic children resident in specified parish areas, followed by other Catholic children, then other looked-after children, then other Christian denominations, other faiths, and finally other children. Distance is used as a tie-break within categories, measured in a straight line from home to the main entrance.

Deadlines matter. The school’s 2026 to 2027 admission policy sets the closing date as 15 January 2026, with outcomes advised on 16 April (or the next working day). Open events appear to run in autumn, for example an October open day with daytime and late-afternoon sessions in a prior year, so families should expect a similar window and check the school calendar for the current cycle.

Parents shortlisting based on location should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their exact distance from the school gates and understand how distance interacts with faith criteria in practice.

Pastoral systems in a primary are often best judged by safeguarding clarity and consistency. St Philip Neri publicly identifies its designated safeguarding lead as the headteacher (Mrs S Williams), with additional named safeguarding team members and a safeguarding governor. Staff lists also show a clearly defined leadership and inclusion structure, including a named SENDCo.

The latest Ofsted inspection in June 2024 found the school continues to be Good. For families, the practical implication is that this is a settled, well-established mainstream primary with systems that are sufficiently embedded to maintain standards through leadership, trust oversight and routine.

Extracurricular life is unusually well-evidenced through the school’s own communications, which name specific clubs rather than relying on generic claims. Mini Vinnies is one of the clearest examples, connecting pupils to charitable projects and whole-school fundraising themes across the year.

There is also a named Eco Club Committee, alongside termly clubs such as Science Club for Years 3 and 4, chess for Years 5 and 6, tennis for Years 5 and 6, gymnastics for Reception and Year 1, and multi-sports for Years 2 to 4. This mix matters because it covers both enrichment and access: science and eco provision suit pupils motivated by curiosity and practical projects, while the sports rotation provides a lower-barrier route for confidence and teamwork.

Music is visible through school choir activity, including community performances. That combination, performance plus community setting, often suits pupils who are happy to rehearse and perform, but who might be nervous of formal solo work.

The school day runs 8:45am to 3:15pm, with a published 32.5-hour week. Breakfast club starts at 7:45am and after-school provision runs until 5:45pm on weekdays. Costs are published as £5.00 per day for breakfast club, and £10.00 per day for after-school club from 3:15pm to 5:45pm (with shorter session options also listed).

The site guidance also covers practicalities at dismissal, including use of the MUGA for safe collection and different collection points by year group. For travel, walking is actively encouraged, bike racks are available for cycling and scooting, and parking guidance is clear about avoiding unsafe stopping close to the site.

• Faith criteria are real. The admissions policy prioritises Catholic children in specified parish areas before moving to other groups. This can be a strong fit for Catholic families seeking continuity, but it may reduce the likelihood of entry for families without that connection.

• High results can bring high expectations. Outcomes are well above England averages, including a large higher-standard group. Pupils who dislike formal assessment culture may need reassurance about pace and support.

• Oversubscription is the limiting factor. With roughly 2.13 applications per place in the latest demand data, a strong preference does not guarantee an offer.

• Religious Education development is a live strand. The denominational inspection sets out clear improvement priorities around challenge and monitoring in Religious Education, so families who care deeply about RE quality should ask what has changed since 2023.

This is a Catholic primary with an unusually strong attainment profile and a clear identity rooted in Gospel values and service. It suits families who want a faith-informed education, structured expectations in the basics, and practical wraparound care that supports working days. Competition for places is the main constraint, so families should treat admissions planning as carefully as academic fit.