Academy converter · Sunderland

Barnwell Academy

3–11Ages
302Pupils
PrimaryPhase
140700URN

Whitefield Estate, Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7RT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.7per place

1.2 above Sunderland median (1.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Sunderland

82 applications for 30 places · 2nd of 73 in Sunderland

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

63%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 · 20 June 2023Ofsted'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

Inspection history

20 June 2023
Graded inspection: Outstanding
14 January 2022
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Improving)

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

2.7applications per place, Reception

1.2 above Sunderland median (1.5) 0.5 above England median (2.2)

82 applications · 30 places offered · 48 named it first

2026 2.7; Sunderland median median 1.5
2025 2.3; Sunderland median median 1.6
2024 2.2; Sunderland median median 1.6
2023 2.4; Sunderland median median 1.5
2022 1.9; Sunderland median median 1.6
2021 2.1; Sunderland median median 1.6
2020 2.8; Sunderland median median 2.1
2019 2.7; Sunderland median median 2.0
2018 2.9; Sunderland median median 2.0
2017 2.2; Sunderland median median 2.0
2016 2.3; Sunderland median median 2.1
2015 2.8; Sunderland median median 1.9
2014 2.3; Sunderland median median 1.8; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Sunderland median in 12 of 12 years.

This school
Sunderland median

Dashed bars: as Barnwell Primary School (URN 108809), the previous school.

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	30	82	2.7	48	1.60
Sep 2025	30	70	2.3	45	1.50
Sep 2024	30	65	2.2	44	1.47
Sep 2023	30	71	2.4	39	1.30
Sep 2022	30	58	1.9	38	1.27
Sep 2021	29	61	2.1	32	1.10
Sep 2020	30	85	2.8	46	1.53
Sep 2019	30	81	2.7	43	1.43
Sep 2018	31	91	2.9	46	1.48
Sep 2017	28	62	2.2	31	1.11
Sep 2016	29	66	2.3	32	1.10
Sep 2015	30	84	2.8	42	1.40
Sep 2014 *	29	67	2.3	33	1.14

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 75% · Writing 72% · Maths 81% → all three 63% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard63%45th of 73 in Sunderland

Sunderland 68% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard75%

Sunderland 78% England 78%

Higher standard19%

Sunderland 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard72%

Sunderland 76% England 75%

Greater depth13%

Sunderland 16% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard81%

Sunderland 81% England 77%

Higher standard16%

Sunderland 25% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (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	63%	6%	103	104
2023/24	87%	17%	108	107
2022/23	76%	17%	107	107

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

Barnwell AcademyThis school
This school

Outstanding2023

2.7applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Penshaw
0.3 km · Sunderland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
New Penshaw Academy
0.5 km · Sunderland

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Shiney Row Primary School
0.7 km · Sunderland

Remains Good2022

1.3applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Fatfield Academy
2.0 km · Sunderland

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Bournmoor Primary School
2.3 km · County Durham

Remains Good2024

2.1applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Newbottle Primary Academy
2.4 km · Sunderland

2026

1.6applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Burnside Academy Inspires
3.1 km · Sunderland

Standards maintained2024

2.1applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Woodlea Primary School
3.1 km · County Durham

Remains Good2024

2.1applications per place

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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 140700 · 394/2139
Trust: Tyne and Wear Learning Trust
Capacity: 210 pupils · 302 on roll
Free school meals: 15.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2014
Replaced: Barnwell Primary School (URN 108809)
Address: Whitefield Estate, Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7RT
Local authority: Sunderland

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