Barnes Junior School, Sunderland
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Barnes Junior School excels at supporting pupil progress with rapid improvements since the last inspection. The teaching staff are committed to continuous improvement and create positive relationships that motivate pupils to do their best. The school goes above and beyond with excellent lunchtime and after-school clubs that give all pupils opportunities to fully engage in school life.
Key Strengths
- Pupils' progress has improved rapidly, with nearly all making expected progress from their starting points
- Teaching is good and improving, with staff highly motivated to develop their skills
- Pupils enjoy school with positive relationships between pupils and adults across the school
- The school provides a safe environment with a wide range of lunchtime and after-school clubs
- Strong leadership that rigorously monitors progress and maintains focus on improvement
Areas for Improvement
- More pupils need to make better than expected progress, particularly in mathematics and reading
- Work in mathematics is not always challenging enough - pupils need opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them
- Marking of pupils' work is not consistent enough to have strong impact on progress
- Reading skills need further development through more research and investigation opportunities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the school provides a safe and harmonious environment where pupils feel very safe and say staff ensure they are well cared for.
Extracurricular Activities
Wide range of lunchtime clubs, after-school clubs
Barnes Junior School is a good school that has improved significantly since the last inspection, with pupils' progress improving dramatically and teaching quality rising. The school provides a safe, harmonious environment where pupils enjoy learning and attendance is above average.
At a Glance
26.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 82% to 60%. Maths has declined from 70% to 47%. Writing has declined from 80% to 51%.
Class Sizes
27.8
Avg class size
27.8
KS2
13
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
341 pupils
360 capacity
19 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Sunderland
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Sunderland
Admissions Demand - Sunderland
Places available
3,460
Applications
2,785
Got 1st preference
95.4%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Sunderland (2025/26)
Inspection History(9)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.78592%
Overall absence
16.30435%
Persistent absence
368
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Barnes Junior School
Thornhill Park School
Barbara Priestman Academy
Consilium Evolve
Thornhill Academy
Argyle House School
St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy
St Aidan's Catholic Academy
Sandhill View Academy
Christ's College
Ashbrooke School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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