Community school · Sunderland

Bernard Gilpin Primary School

5–11Ages
417Pupils
PrimaryPhase
108830URN

Hall Lane, Houghton le Spring, DH5 8DA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2022 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

0.3 above Sunderland median (1.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Sunderland

108 applications for 60 places · 23rd of 73 in Sunderland

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

87%met the expected standard

Sunderland 68% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 21 September 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.8applications per place, Reception

0.3 above Sunderland median (1.5) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

108 applications · 60 places offered · 63 named it first

2026 1.8; Sunderland median median 1.5
2025 1.8; Sunderland median median 1.6
2024 1.6; Sunderland median median 1.6
2023 1.7; Sunderland median median 1.5
2022 1.6; Sunderland median median 1.6
2021 1.4; Sunderland median median 1.6
2020 2.0; Sunderland median median 2.1
2019 2.7; Sunderland median median 2.0
2018 2.2; Sunderland median median 2.0
2017 1.9; Sunderland median median 2.0
2016 2.1; Sunderland median median 2.1
2015 1.8; Sunderland median median 1.9
2014 1.8; Sunderland median median 1.8

This school
Sunderland median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	60	108	1.8	63	1.05
Sep 2025	60	107	1.8	64	1.07
Sep 2024	60	98	1.6	58	0.97
Sep 2023	55	92	1.7	49	0.89
Sep 2022	60	98	1.6	56	0.93
Sep 2021	59	85	1.4	58	0.98
Sep 2020	60	119	2.0	61	1.02
Sep 2019	50	133	2.7	69	1.38
Sep 2018	50	111	2.2	55	1.10
Sep 2017	50	93	1.9	49	0.98
Sep 2016	50	103	2.1	66	1.32
Sep 2015	49	90	1.8	47	0.96
Sep 2014	50	88	1.8	51	1.02

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 92% · Writing 90% · Maths 93% → all three 87% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard87%6th of 73 in Sunderland

Sunderland 68% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard92%

Sunderland 78% England 78%

Higher standard57%

Sunderland 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 110 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard90%

Sunderland 76% England 75%

Greater depth32%

Sunderland 16% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard93%

Sunderland 81% England 77%

Higher standard47%

Sunderland 25% England 24%

Average scaled score 110 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Sunderland median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	87%	28%	110	110
2023/24	83%	23%	109	109
2022/23	86%	24%	111	110

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Bernard Gilpin Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2022

1.8applications per place 87%met the SATs standard
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton
0.6 km · Sunderland

2026

1.6applications per place 87%met the SATs standard
Gillas Lane Primary Academy
0.7 km · Sunderland

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 15%met the SATs standard
Burnside Academy Inspires
1.1 km · Sunderland

Standards maintained2024

2.1applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Eppleton Academy Primary School
1.4 km · Sunderland

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.3applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Newbottle Primary Academy
1.6 km · Sunderland

2026

1.6applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Dubmire Primary
2.1 km · Sunderland

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.5applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
East Rainton Primary School
2.1 km · Sunderland

Remains Good2023

1.4applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Hetton Primary School
2.6 km · Sunderland

Remains Good2024

2.1applications per place 54%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 108830 · 394/2176
Capacity: 400 pupils · 417 on roll
Free school meals: 21.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Hall Lane, Houghton le Spring, DH5 8DA
Local authority: Sunderland

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources