St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields
South Shields, NE34 8NS · South Tyneside · primary school
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20th of 38 primary schools in South Tyneside we can score, 45 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.9/10 against 1,729 of them, against 5.7/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 68.0 · 60 | 40% | 2.40 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 25% | 1.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 68.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 7.0% of pupils, matching the national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in February 2025. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Wildlife, Cooking, Reading, Homework, Engineering, Science, Italian, and Circus Skills clubs. Sports include football, archery, fencing, gymnastics, tennis, cricket, and fitness. Arts and music provision features choir and dance.
Getting in
The published school roll is 226 pupils against a stated capacity of 256. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are not yet meeting the expected standard in maths? What specific trips or external visits are planned for the current academic year? How are the various clubs scheduled to ensure most pupils can attend at least one?
What Ofsted said about St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields
Overview
The inspection confirms that St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school continues to provide a high-quality education where pupils are “welcoming, proud and happy,” benefiting from an “ambitious” curriculum and strong support for those with special educational needs.
Strengths
- Leaders have developed a “high-quality curriculum” that builds knowledge and skills effectively from the early years.
- Pupils demonstrate “highly positive” behaviour and attitudes, working and playing together in harmony with a “real sense of family.”
- Staff provide effective support, ensuring pupils of all abilities achieve highly, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Early years provision is strong, with a clear focus on communication, language, and confidence-building activities.
- Attendance has improved through “well-established systems,” and pupils are well-prepared for life in modern Britain with “exemplary attitudes” towards diversity.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure checks on pupils’ knowledge are consistent over time, as current methods do not always identify where knowledge is insecure, leading to gaps in long-term retention.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with well-trained staff ensuring pupils are safe and developing a keen understanding of personal safety.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 68% |
| 2023/24 | 66% |
| 2024/25 | 68% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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