Burnside Academy Inspires, Houghton le Spring

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pride that I welcome you to our thriving academy. Burnside Academy is a small school and that allows our teachers to get to know each child so well. This means we can adapt our teaching skilfully to meet the needs of each pupil - and that is what makes our school so special!"

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include karate, art and film.

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at Burnside Academy Inspires reached the expected standard in reading and 57% 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 (61% in reading, 61% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 21 families put Burnside Academy Inspires as their first choice and 46 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Burnside Academy Inspires are Newbottle Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 80% reading, 81% maths); Bernard Gilpin Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 92% reading, 93% maths); St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton (0.8 miles, Good, 97% reading, 97% maths); and Dubmire Primary (0.8 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Burnside Academy Inspires.

Burnside Academy Inspires is one of 5 schools run by Inspire Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Burnside Academy Inspires (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

40.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 52 pupils (29.9%) received SEN support and 3 (1.7%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

Burnside Academy Inspires had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Burnside Academy Inspires.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brinkburn Cres-Newburn Cres (se-bound), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Burnside Academy Inspires stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

Burnside Academy Inspires recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.