Bernard Gilpin Primary School, Houghton le Spring
Bernard Gilpin Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Houghton le Spring. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 17 schools in Houghton le Spring with published results, and 941st of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Sunderland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bernard Gilpin Primary School in detail
Bernard Gilpin Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Bernard Gilpin Primary School is a vibrant and inclusive educational institution located in the heart of Houghton-le-Spring, a town in Tyne and Wear, England. The school's namesake, Bernard Gilpin, was a prominent 16th-century clergyman who dedicated his life to serving the community and championing education for all."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, basketball, yoga, dance, drama, Lego and STEM.
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Sunderland
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Bernard Gilpin Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Sunderland and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (92% in reading, 96% in maths).
Getting a place at Bernard Gilpin Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 63 families put Bernard Gilpin Primary School as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bernard Gilpin Primary School are St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton (0.4 miles, Good, 97% reading, 97% maths); Gillas Lane Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 15% reading, 77% maths); Burnside Academy Inspires (0.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 57% maths); and Eppleton Academy Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths).
Bernard Gilpin Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, HoughtonGillas Lane Primary AcademyBurnside Academy InspiresEppleton Academy Primary School
Who goes there
1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 69 pupils (16.5%) received SEN support and 4 (1%) 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
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Bernard Gilpin Primary School.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hall Lane-Orchard Place (n-bound), 100 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Bernard Gilpin Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bernard Gilpin Primary School are Kepier (0.3 miles) and Hetton Academy (1.6 miles).
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); 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 · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its September 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
21.6%
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 remained stable at around 92% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 93% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.9
Avg class size
29.2
Infant (KS1)
27.1
KS2
14
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Reception Open Evening - Admission September 2027
25 Sep 2026
Parking At School
24 Sep 2026
Educational Visits
14 Sep 2026
Kepier Open Evening
14 Sep 2026
Summer Holidays 2026
17 Jul 2026
Summer Activities for Children with SEND
17 Jul 2026
From Bernard Gilpin Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bernard Gilpin Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bernard Gilpin Primary 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
- 3
- Children hurt
- 4
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, 3 serious and 9 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 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
Your chances of a place at Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Will you get a place at Bernard Gilpin Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bernard Gilpin Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bernard Gilpin Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bernard Gilpin Primary School.
- Sunderland publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Bernard Gilpin Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bernard Gilpin Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Sunderland 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
419 pupils
420 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Houghton le Spring
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Houghton le Spring
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.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
69
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
17.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
417
Total Pupils
229
Boys
188
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
19.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,228
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,059
Per pupil
£2413k
Total funding
£136k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.2%
Overall absence
5.4%
Persistent absence
367
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
Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Questions parents ask about Bernard Gilpin Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bernard Gilpin Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 92% reached the expected standard in reading and 93% did so in maths.
What is Bernard Gilpin Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bernard Gilpin Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2022. At its previous graded inspection in 2012 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bernard Gilpin Primary 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 Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
Bernard Gilpin Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
Classes at Bernard Gilpin Primary School average 27.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
Bernard Gilpin Primary School has around 417 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
3.2% of sessions were missed at Bernard Gilpin Primary School in 2024/25. 5.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
Apply through Sunderland's coordinated admissions process, naming Bernard Gilpin Primary 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.
How many road collisions happen near Bernard Gilpin Primary 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, 3 serious and 9 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 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 Bernard Gilpin Primary School?
Bernard Gilpin Primary School is at Hall Lane, Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH5 8DA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)