Christ Church CofE Primary School, North Shields Review 2026: A small Church of England primary with a strong reading culture

The cleanest way to read performance here is to separate rank position from the underlying attainment measures.

Core attainment at the expected standard (KS2 style measure)

In 2024, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 19% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with 8% across England. These are meaningful signals for families who want reassurance that most pupils secure the basics well, while a notable minority push beyond them. (FindMySchool results, based on official data.)

Scaled scores and subject measures

The results reports combined reading, maths and GPS scaled totals of 311, with average scaled scores of 104 in reading, 103 in maths, and 104 in GPS, alongside expected-standard subject percentages including 71% in reading and 71% in maths. These figures add detail on the profile: relatively even attainment across reading and maths, with grammar and spelling also sitting solidly.

Rank context

The school is ranked 10,221st in England and 13th in the North Shields local area for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), placing it below England average overall and within the bottom 40% band on the percentile model. This does not contradict the expected-standard attainment figure above; it suggests that, compared with many schools nationally, the broader bundle of measures used in the ranking is less strong than core attainment alone.

Reading is positioned as a defining strength and it is described with enough specificity to feel operational rather than aspirational. The school runs a Reading Champions group, and describes pupils using that role to recommend books in collective worship and to share stories with other children at break times, with a lending-library approach based in the entrance area.

Phonics and early reading are anchored in a named programme. The school states it uses Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised in early years and Key Stage 1, with Oxford Reading Tree and Project X used to continue progression beyond that point. For parents, the practical implication is clarity and consistency in early reading instruction, plus a structure for home support through workshops that introduce families to the approach.

Mathematics is also framed as ambitious in the most recent inspection report, with curriculum plans setting out small steps, which usually indicates a sequenced approach rather than loosely themed teaching.

Beyond English and maths, the school publishes subject intent and approach pages that indicate planning attention across foundation subjects. For example, design and technology is described as using a cross-curricular approach, with planned progression from Year 1 to Year 6.

For a primary in North Shields, the biggest practical question is which secondary schools families tend to target, and how the school supports the move. Publicly available local-area context lists a range of nearby secondary options serving North Shields, including Norham High School, John Spence Community High School, Marden High School, and Kings Priory School.

The best next step for families is to treat Year 5 as the planning year: attend open events across a shortlist, check travel time at peak hours, and ask the primary how it supports transition for pupils who may need extra structure. Where children need additional support, many primaries run extra transition work in summer term, so it is worth raising this early rather than waiting until Year 6.

Reception admissions are coordinated through North Tyneside’s admissions process. For September 2026 entry, the council guide states applications open from Monday 8 September 2025, and it also sets an on-time deadline of 12 January 2026, after which applications are treated as late, reducing the chance of securing a preferred place.

The school itself notes that admissions for September 2026 open in September 2025 and indicates families can arrange a tour.

Demand in the FindMySchool results suggests a competitive profile for Reception. The most recent year shown has 31 applications for 15 offers, with 2.07 applications per place applications per place, and a status recorded as oversubscribed. In practice, that usually means families should not assume a place by default and should plan a realistic set of preferences.

If you are comparing local primaries, the FindMySchool Map Search is useful for checking distance-based priority where it applies, and for sanity-checking travel time from home to the school gate at drop-off.

Pastoral support is closely linked to the school’s values, with specific structures referenced in the inspection report. Pupils are described as feeling able to speak to a trusted adult if they have a problem, and there is a “let’s talk” box for raising concerns. Staff workload is also referenced as an area leaders and governors attend to, which often correlates with steadier staffing and calmer routines for pupils.

Safeguarding is described as a priority, with recruitment checks carried out rigorously and staff training taken seriously; the report states the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The most persuasive extracurricular detail here is how activities connect back to core priorities and the school’s Church links.

Reading leadership in pupil roles

Reading Champions is a concrete example of pupil responsibility tied to literacy, with book recommendations and peer reading culture built into break times and collective worship.

Church and community-linked activities

The school describes parish involvement through activities including a community choir, a craft club, the Christmas Child Shoebox appeal, and weekly reading support. For pupils, the implication is that enrichment is not only school-led but also community-backed, which can be particularly motivating for children who enjoy performance, making, or service-focused projects.

Visits and experiences as part of RE

RE includes regular engagement with local church life and visits such as Newcastle Cathedral, plus structured sessions like Godly Play for younger pupils. This is useful context for families who want faith to be expressed through experiences as well as classroom teaching.

School publishes staggered start and finish times by phase, including Reception finishing at 3.10pm, and Years 5 and 6 finishing at 3.20pm, with Nursery sessions structured across the day.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Breakfast Club runs 7.30am to 8.45am and costs £5.50 per session. After School Club runs 3.15pm to 4.30pm (£6) and 4.30pm to 6.00pm (£6).

For transport planning, families should do a live run at drop-off time at least once before applying, because the practical difference between a ten-minute and twenty-minute school run can shape the entire week.

• A small school means less anonymity. With a roll size shown as 169 in the most recent inspection report, children are likely to be well known by staff. That suits many pupils; those who prefer a bigger peer pool may want to compare with larger local primaries.

• Reception places look competitive in the available demand snapshot. The figures show over two applications per place for the most recent year recorded, which suggests you should plan early, attend a tour, and submit a carefully ordered list of preferences.

• Faith identity is active, not background. Regular worship, links to the parish, and a Christian values framework are central. Families who want a lighter-touch faith presence should make sure the approach matches their expectations.

• Pick-up logistics can be a juggling act. Different year groups finish at slightly different times. For families with multiple children, it is worth asking how the school manages sibling collection in practice.

Christ Church CofE Primary School, North Shields suits families who want a smaller primary with a clear Church of England identity, a strong emphasis on reading, and wraparound care that is straightforward to use. Core attainment at the expected standard is a positive signal, and the school’s reading culture is unusually well defined for a primary website. Best suited to pupils who respond well to clear values, structured routines, and a community-linked approach to enrichment, with the main challenge being competition for Reception places.