Barnes Junior School, Sunderland
Barnes Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Sunderland. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 43rd-highest of the 43 schools in Sunderland with published results, and 13,711th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Capacity
- 99% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Barnes Junior School in detail
Barnes Junior School in its own words
In its own words: "Barnes Junior School is a three-form entry junior school in Sunderland, in the heart of the North East of England. We are proud of our school, proud of our community and proud of the heritage of the area we serve."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, multi-sports, karate, dance and drama.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £7 per day.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Barnes Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 47% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Sunderland and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 82% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Barnes Junior School
Across Sunderland, 95% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Sunderland lodged 42 appeals against primary school offers; 33 reached a hearing and 15 succeeded (45.5% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Barnes Junior School are Barnes Infant Academy (under 0.1 miles, Good); Richard Avenue Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 69% reading, 74% maths); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland (0.6 miles, 95% reading, 97% maths); and Plains Farm Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 74% reading, 65% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Barnes Junior School.
Barnes Infant AcademyRichard Avenue Primary SchoolSt Mary's Catholic Primary School, SunderlandPlains Farm Academy
Who goes there
In 2026, 46 pupils (13.5%) received SEN support and 9 (2.6%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Millfield (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barnes Infants And Junior Schools (e-bound), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 300 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Sunderland (148), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Barnes Junior School issued 8 suspensions, 2.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Barnes Junior School are Thornhill Academy (0.7 miles), St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy (0.8 miles), St Aidan's Catholic Academy (0.9 miles) and Sandhill View Academy (1 mile).
Thornhill AcademySt Anthony's Girls' Catholic AcademySt Aidan's Catholic AcademySandhill View Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from May 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Barnes Junior School excels at creating a welcoming, caring environment where children feel safe and supported. The school has excellent specialist provision for pupils with SEND and provides outstanding well-being support, including techniques to help pupils manage anxiety. With high staff expectations and a range of enrichment activities, the school helps all pupils flourish and develop as confident learners and leaders.
Key Strengths
- Strong support for pupils with SEND with highly effective specialist provision (The Hive and The Nest)
- Exemplary well-being support including anxiety management techniques and leadership opportunities
- Effective reading programme with phonics and daily reading workshops
- Recently introduced mathematics curriculum helping pupils catch up after COVID-19
- Caring environment where pupils feel safe with trusted staff members available
Areas for Improvement
- Some foundation subjects like art and design lack clear step-by-step knowledge progression
- Some staff provide too much help during reading sessions, limiting pupils' independent decoding practice
- Younger pupils need more opportunities to develop problem-solving and reasoning skills in mathematics
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong culture of safeguarding, regular staff training, thorough recruitment checks, and prompt action on concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Cricket, football, netball, karate, art, dance, acoustic guitar tuition, religious education leaders, eco warriors, sports leaders
Barnes Junior School continues to be a good school where pupils enjoy a welcoming, caring learning environment and staff have high expectations of behaviour and achievement.
At a Glance
26.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 82% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 70% to 47% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 80% to 51% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Barnes Junior School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Barnes Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Barnes Junior School is in Sunderland; for families living there:
Apply to Sunderland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
4 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 Sunderland is 13 (the median across 125 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
358 pupils
360 places
2 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sunderland
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sunderland
Across Sunderland council
Places available
3,430
Applications
2,737
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Sunderland council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
46
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
16.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
341
Total Pupils
183
Boys
158
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
20.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,429
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,449
Per pupil
£2196k
Total funding
£158k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.8%
Overall absence
16.3%
Persistent absence
368
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 Barnes Junior School
What are SATs results like at Barnes Junior School?
Of the pupils at Barnes Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 60% reached the expected standard in reading and 47% did so in maths.
What is Barnes Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Barnes Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Barnes Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Barnes Junior School is oversubscribed, Sunderland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Barnes Junior School?
Barnes Junior School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How many pupils go to Barnes Junior School?
Barnes Junior School has around 341 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Barnes Junior School?
5.8% of sessions were missed at Barnes Junior School in 2024/25. 16.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Barnes Junior School?
Apply through Sunderland's coordinated admissions process, naming Barnes Junior School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Barnes Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 4 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 Sunderland is 13 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Barnes Junior School?
Barnes Junior School is at Mount Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR4 7QF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)