Whitehouse Primary School

Small classes, a 12-place resourced provision for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, and a leadership team that openly calls this a new school in all but name. Whitehouse Primary School sits off Whitehouse Lane in North Shields and takes children from age two through to the end of Year 6, with 159 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210.

The academy opened on 1 January 2024, when it joined NEAT Academy Trust as a sponsor-led academy. The headteacher is Mr Michael Moran. Because the academy is so new, it has not yet been inspected by Ofsted in its own right, so there is no independent verdict on the current school.

The honest summary is a school in transition. Early years, inclusion and relationships are where it puts its energy; Key Stage 2 results are the weak point, and they sit near the foot of the table for England. Families weighing it up should look closely at both.

Relationships come first here, and the school says so plainly. The headteacher's welcome describes the school as a little haven tucked away behind Beach Road, and sets out an aim of knowing children and families well enough to remove whatever barriers stand in their way. For a school where more than half of pupils are eligible for free school meals (55.7%, or 68 children), that emphasis is practical rather than decorative.

The motto is "Believe in yourself", broken down into five core values that children are meant to carry with them when they leave: Unique, Resilient, Confident, Independent and Responsible. These sit alongside a curriculum intent statement, written with pupils, parents and staff in April 2024, which pictures each leaver as a confident, resilient and independent learner ready for the next stage. The values are not just a poster. The personal development offer ties British values teaching directly to the idea that every child is unique.

The building itself is relatively modern. It opened in April 2016 and is built on two levels, with a lift to every first-floor classroom, step-free access to the library and hall on the ground floor, disability-accessible toilets throughout and two hearing loops, one in the main reception area and one in the main hall. For a child with a physical disability or a hearing impairment, that removes a practical barrier many older primaries still carry.

Early years has its own character. Nursery children spend a good deal of time outside, exploring the nursery garden and water play, and parents are asked to send in a one-piece wetsuit and a pair of wellies that stay at school. The Reception class has a secure Early Years garden. The school describes a play-based approach rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage, with child-led exploration balanced against focused adult-led sessions.

Since joining NEAT Academy Trust, the school has been part of a group of eight schools, six primary and two secondary, set up as a multi-academy trust in April 2017. The trust's stated values (aspirational, collaborative, inclusive, innovative and responsible) run through the SEND and personal development pages, and trust-wide events such as NEAT Volunteer Week and Green Careers Week reach down into the primary classrooms.

Key Stage 2 results are the clearest concern. In the most recent published results, 29% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, against an England average of 62%. No pupil reached the higher standard across all three, where the England average is 8%.

In FindMySchool's proprietary rankings built from official data, Whitehouse is 14,792nd of 14,978 in England for primary (KS2) results (top 98.8%), ranked against all schools in England with published KS2 results, state and independent. That places it well below the England average and close to the bottom of the table.

The subject detail tells a more mixed story. Mathematics was the stronger test, with 46% reaching the expected standard; reading followed at 36% and grammar, punctuation and spelling at 29%. Science was higher again, with 64% meeting the expected standard against an England average of 82%. A small group stretched further: 4% reached the higher score in reading, 4% in mathematics and 4% worked at greater depth in writing.

Average scaled scores were 100 in reading and 100 in mathematics, with 99 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. A score of 100 marks the expected standard, so the typical pupil who sat those tests was around the expected line even though the combined measure is low.

Context matters with a year group of 28. The school's July 2025 SEND report records that seven Year 6 pupils were disapplied from the SATs, and that six of that year group were in the resourced provision. In a cohort this size, each pupil moves the percentages by more than three points. That does not explain away the gap, but parents should read these figures alongside the make-up of the school.

Lower down the school, the picture the school gives of itself is brighter. Its pupil premium statement reports that the proportion of children reaching a good level of development at the end of Reception is 9% above the England average, and that Year 1 phonics outcomes are consistently above or broadly in line with it. These are the school's own figures rather than published league-table measures, but they point to early years as a relative strength.

The curriculum follows the National Curriculum and has been restructured to align with NEAT Academy Trust's curriculum documents. In Key Stage 1 and 2, pupils study English, mathematics, science and computing, alongside history, geography, art, music, physical education and modern foreign languages. Early years covers the seven areas of learning, from communication and language through to expressive arts and design.

Reading sits at the centre of the school's improvement work. The pupil premium strategy funds staff training in phonological awareness and Read Write Inc. Phonics, extra phonics support in Year 3, and booster groups for Year 6 in maths and reading. Targeted academic support also runs in Year 5 and Year 6. For a school whose KS2 reading results are low, that is the right place to push.

Classroom practice leans on well-known, evidence-based methods. Retrieval practice is embedded in lessons to help pupils recall prior learning, and the school has adopted Rosenshine's principles so that children learn more and remember more. It also sits inside a trust that includes Newcastle Research School, designated by the Education Endowment Foundation, which gives staff access to evidence-led professional development.

The school is candid that pupils often arrive with lower starting points. Its own statement says children typically enter early years with communication and language below what would be expected, so language work is built into staff training in early years and into how adults interact with the youngest children. Class sizes are kept small in every year group, according to the school, to give each child more attention in calmer classrooms.

Whitehouse is a primary school, so every pupil moves on at the end of Year 6. Families should ask the school directly which secondary schools recent Year 6 pupils have moved to, since that is the best guide to realistic options. Secondary applications are made through the home local authority's coordinated Year 7 process rather than through the primary school.

Preparation for that move is part of the school's stated purpose. The vision statement describes a leaver who is ready academically, socially and emotionally for the next stage, and the personal development offer weaves careers education through the curriculum from early years onwards, using the Gatsby benchmarks as a framework for raising aspirations. The trust's Green Careers Week brings that into the primary years.

For pupils in the resourced provision, preparation for adulthood is a significant focus at annual reviews, with practical life skills such as time and money and real-world experiences like pedestrian training built into the curriculum. That matters for families of children with complex needs, where the transition to secondary is often the most anxious point of the whole primary journey.

NEAT Academy Trust is the admissions authority for Whitehouse Primary School, but applications for Reception to Year 6 are managed by North Tyneside Council through its School Admissions Portal. Parents should check the council's website for Reception application deadlines, and the school office will help with the process.

Demand is modest in absolute terms. For Reception entry in 2025, the school received 13 applications and made 11 offers, which technically makes it oversubscribed. The last place offered in 2025 went on distance, at 1.18 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

The school has advertised Reception places available for September 2026 entry, and with 159 pupils against a capacity of 210, there is room in the building. Families moving into the area or changing school mid-year apply through North Tyneside Council's in-year admissions process. Families refused a place have a right of appeal, handled through the council.

Nursery admissions work differently. Applications for the two-year-old provision and for Nursery go directly to the school, and places are allocated under the school's Nursery Admissions Policy. There is a termly intake, so children can start at several points during the year rather than only in September. The nursery promises a smooth transition into Reception, though a Reception place still requires a council application.

The school encourages visits before applying. Families can book an Open Morning or a tour with Mr Moran, and free Stay and Play sessions for children aged two to four offer a lower-pressure first look. These run as separate sessions for two-year-olds and for three- and four-year-olds (recent sessions ran on Wednesday afternoons), and you do not need a place at the school to attend.

Inclusion is where Whitehouse is most distinctive. The school's SEND report for July 2025 shows 29.3% of pupils on the special educational needs register, against 18.2% across England, and 8.9% with an education, health and care plan, against 5.3%. The resourced provision caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, and it has 13 pupils on its roll against a capacity of 12.

Support is structured rather than ad hoc. Pupils receiving SEN support have a SEN support plan with SMART targets, and parents receive a copy each half term before parents' evening. One-page pupil passports record how each child learns best. The school has reintroduced Makaton signing across school, children share songs using Makaton signs during worship, and the school song is My Lighthouse. Parents of pupils in the resourced provision stay in touch through Seesaw.

Emotional wellbeing gets the same attention. The school's Pastoral Support Team offers a confidential space for pupils who are anxious or struggling, and trained Mental Health First Aiders act as a first point of contact. The school works with North Tyneside CAMHS and a wide set of outside services, including the Educational Psychology Service (from ASK Psychology), the Speech and Language Team, the Hive Team and the Mental Health Connect team. Half-termly SEN and pastoral coffee mornings give parents a regular, informal route in.

Behaviour is managed through a Relationship and Behaviour Policy built on restorative practice. Class Dojo points and stickers recognise daily achievements, and Star of the Week certificates are handed out in weekly assemblies. When things go wrong, pupils may take calm reflection time followed by a restorative conversation with their teacher, and younger pupils and those with additional needs get adapted tools such as emotion cards. Attendance is taken seriously, with a minimum target of 96% for every pupil.

Enrichment is described in broad strokes rather than a long list of named clubs, so families should ask what is running this year. What the school does publish points to three pillars: outdoor learning, pupil voice and trust-wide events.

Outdoor learning starts early. Nursery children regularly use the nursery garden and water play, and Reception children learn indoors and outdoors through purposeful play in the secure Early Years garden. Further up the school, pupil premium funding has paid for an outdoor learning and conflict resolution programme from Thrive in Life, which combines time outside with the social skills many pupils need most.

Pupil voice is real. The whole-school forum includes pupils from the resourced provision, one of whom holds the role of school president while two others sit on the school council. A Helping Hands system gives children classroom responsibilities, which the school links to pride and confidence. That is a small detail with a big implication: pupils with additional needs are not sidelined from leadership roles.

Trust-wide events broaden the offer. Reception pupils take part in educational visits linked to class topics, visitors who inspire curiosity, themed weeks, charity events and performances, alongside NEAT Volunteer Week and Green Careers Week. World Book Day is marked across the trust as part of its focus on reading. Pupil premium funding is also set aside to help disadvantaged pupils access NEAT extra-curricular activities in school, which matters in a community where the school says many children have few cultural opportunities outside it.

Music has a presence through the curriculum and through signing and singing in worship. The personal development offer also covers PSHE and relationships education through the Jigsaw scheme, sustainability across subjects and the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act, taught in an age-appropriate way.

The school day for Reception to Year 6 runs from 8.45am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, a total of 33 hours 45 minutes a week. Breakfast Club opens from 8.00am and After School Club runs until 5.00pm. Nursery children can also attend the Snowy Owls Afterschool Club, run by school staff and booked online in advance. For current wraparound and nursery charges, contact the school directly.

Nursery provision covers three- and four-year-olds, with 15 funded hours for all three- and four-year-olds in term time and up to 30 funded hours for eligible working parents. Families should check eligibility through North Tyneside Council. Catering is provided by Aspens; nursery children attending a full day can buy a school lunch or bring a packed lunch.

Uniform is a white polo shirt, a green cardigan or sweatshirt, black trousers and black shoes, with compulsory items supplied by Emblematic. Families who need help with uniform can speak to the school office. The school does not publish transport arrangements, so families needing travel support should ask North Tyneside Council.

• Results are well below the England average. Only 29% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, against 62% across England, and the school ranks near the bottom of the table. A large proportion of pupils with SEND and a small cohort shape these figures, but parents with an academically able child should ask how the school stretches its highest attainers.

• There is no inspection verdict on this school yet. The academy has not been inspected since it opened on 1 January 2024. Before this school opened, the predecessor school (URN 108577) was judged Inadequate by Ofsted in July 2022. Without a current independent judgement, a visit and direct questions about progress since then carry extra weight.

• Enrichment detail is thin. The school describes clubs, sports, arts and trips in general terms but names few of them. Families for whom sport, music or specific clubs matter should ask for this year's timetable before deciding.

• A school in the middle of change. A substantive headteacher took up post in March 2024 after two interim headteachers, and the school itself says it has been transformed. Improvement plans are clear, but the track record under the new leadership is short.

Whitehouse Primary School is a small, inclusive North Shields primary working hard to turn itself around. Its strengths are real and specific: an accessible modern building, a 12-place resourced provision, structured SEND support with Makaton, pupil passports and half-termly plans, a relational approach to behaviour, and early years provision that the school reports is ahead of the England average for a good level of development.

The weakness is equally specific. Key Stage 2 results are among the lowest in England, and there is no Ofsted inspection of the current school to show how far the new leadership has moved things on.

It is best suited to families who value small classes, a strongly inclusive culture and good early years and nursery provision close to home, and particularly to parents of a child with additional needs. Families prioritising KS2 attainment above all else should visit, ask hard questions about Year 6 outcomes and weigh the answers carefully.