Wessington Primary School
Washington, NE38 7PY · Sunderland · primary school
Check the area around this school
71st of 73 primary schools in Sunderland we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.2/10 against 1,447 of them, against 0.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 23.0 · 1 | 40% | 0.05 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Wessington Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 23.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2024. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 218 pupils against a stated capacity of 312. 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 below the expected standard in literacy and numeracy? What specific interventions are in place to help students reach the higher standard? How does the school plan to maintain its Good Ofsted rating while addressing the significant gap between current results and national medians?
What Ofsted said about Wessington Primary School
Overview
Wessington Primary School continues to be a good school, characterised by "very positive relationships" and a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and valued. Leaders maintain "very high expectations for all pupils," fostering a community defined by empathy, fairness, and strong staff commitment to pupil welfare.
Strengths
- Pupils are "happy, friendly and welcoming," with "positive attitudes to reading" supported by "consistent and effective phonics teaching."
- The mathematics curriculum is "well sequenced and effective," allowing pupils to form "firm foundations" and grasp new concepts quickly.
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a "strength," with staff using careful adaptations to ensure access to an age-appropriate curriculum.
- Staff feel "well supported" by leaders who are "considerate of their workload and well-being," while governors play active, informed roles in holding leaders to account.
- Early years provision benefits from a "language-rich environment" and regular forest school activities that develop "independence and resilience."
Areas to improve
- The school should ensure the recently revised foundation subject curriculums are "fully implemented and embedded" so that all pupils acquire the crucial knowledge leaders have identified.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," noting that staff are relentless in their commitment to keeping pupils safe and that the school has created an open culture around safeguarding.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 59% |
| 2023/24 | 52% |
| 2024/25 | 23% |
| 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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