Archbishop Runcie CofE First School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Archbishop Runcie CofE First School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 9 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. It was full in 2025, at 106% of capacity.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Newcastle upon Tyne (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Archbishop Runcie CofE First School in detail
Archbishop Runcie CofE First School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Archbishop Runcie CE First School is a small, loving and welcoming Church of England school in Gosforth. We are proud to offer our children a high quality education in a Christian context. We have close links with both Gosforth, All Saints' and Gosforth, St Nicholas' churches."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, yoga, choir and recorder.
The school runs a breakfast club from 6:00am and after-school care, from £10.00 per session.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School
For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Archbishop Runcie CofE First School as their first choice and 96 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Archbishop Runcie CofE First School are South Gosforth First School (0.5 miles, Good); St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Gosforth (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 73% maths); Archibald First School (0.6 miles, Outstanding); and Gosforth Park First School (0.7 miles, Good).
South Gosforth First SchoolSt Oswald's Catholic Primary School, GosforthArchibald First SchoolGosforth Park First School
What parents say
61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Archbishop Runcie CofE First School (as of September 2025): 89% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Who goes there
12.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 19 pupils (11.6%) received SEN support and 5 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is South Gosforth (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 370 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Avenue-Church Road (ne-bound), 370 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 148 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Newcastle upon Tyne (318).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Archbishop Runcie CofE First School issued 8 suspensions, 4.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Archbishop Runcie CofE First School are Gosforth Central Middle School (0.3 miles), Gosforth East Middle School (0.5 miles), Gosforth Junior High Academy (0.6 miles) and Gosforth Academy (0.6 miles).
Gosforth Central Middle SchoolGosforth East Middle SchoolGosforth Junior High AcademyGosforth Academy
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school creates a happy, nurturing environment where children flourish and develop strong values. Reading is taught to a high standard with careful support for those who need extra help. The school extends learning beyond the classroom through practical activities, local fieldwork, and encouraging pupils to make a positive difference in their community.
Key Strengths
- High-quality reading instruction with regular progress checks and quick identification of pupils who need extra support -
- Well-sequenced curriculum that is regularly reviewed, with strong subject knowledge shared by staff -
- Strong emphasis on wider personal development, with pupils acting as 'agents of change' in their local community -
- Excellent early years provision with a good balance between adult-led activities and children's play -
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs alongside their peers
Areas for Improvement
- Some planned activities in lessons do not match the intended learning well enough, meaning pupils do not deepen their understanding as effectively as they could -
- Misconceptions in pupils' work are not consistently identified and addressed, which slows their understanding of new knowledge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, educational visits, play leader roles, library champion roles, school council, reading shed, local park tidying initiatives
Archbishop Runcie Church of England First School is a good school where pupils are happy, kind to each other, and achieve well across the curriculum in a nurturing and caring environment. The school has strong leadership, effective safeguarding, and a well-sequenced curriculum that supports all learners including those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
12.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
61 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
27.3
Avg class size
26.7
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Archbishop Runcie CofE First School
From Archbishop Runcie CofE First School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Archbishop Runcie CofE First School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Archbishop Runcie CofE First School.
- Mr H - Out of School Clubs540m away · Not yet graded
- Gosforth Kumon study centre660m away · Not yet graded
- Sport North East (NSB)810m away · Not yet graded
- Playtime Paradise Wraparound @St Oswalds970m away · Not yet graded
- Captain Ted's980m away · Not yet graded
- Junior All Stars Ltd980m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Archbishop Runcie CofE First School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Archbishop Runcie CofE First School is in Newcastle upon Tyne; for families living there:
Apply to Newcastle upon Tyne for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Newcastle upon Tyne is 23.5 (the median across 112 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School
Will you get a place at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Archbishop Runcie CofE First School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Archbishop Runcie CofE First School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Archbishop Runcie CofE First School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Newcastle upon Tyne, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Newcastle upon Tyne got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
106%
Over capacity
148 pupils
140 places
8 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Across Newcastle upon Tyne council
Places available
3,365
Applications
2,886
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Newcastle upon Tyne council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
19
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
14.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
164
Total Pupils
81
Boys
83
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
20.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,937
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,547
Per pupil
£915k
Total funding
£32k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
11.3%
Persistent absence
124
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Archbishop Runcie CofE First School
What is Archbishop Runcie CofE First School's Ofsted rating?
Archbishop Runcie CofE First School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
No fixed boundary. When Archbishop Runcie CofE First School is oversubscribed, Newcastle upon Tyne allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
Archbishop Runcie CofE First School was full in 2025, at 106% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
Classes at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School average 27.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
Archbishop Runcie CofE First School has around 164 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Archbishop Runcie CofE First School in 2024/25. 11.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
Apply through Newcastle upon Tyne's coordinated admissions process, naming Archbishop Runcie CofE First School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Archbishop Runcie CofE First School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 6 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Archbishop Runcie CofE First School: Mr H - Out of School Clubs (540m away, registered, not yet graded), Gosforth Kumon study centre (660m away, registered, not yet graded) and Sport North East (NSB) (810m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Newcastle upon Tyne is 23.5 (the median across 112 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Archbishop Runcie CofE First School?
Archbishop Runcie CofE First School is at Christon Road, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE3 1US.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)