Dunston Hill Community Primary School, Gateshead
Dunston Hill Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Gateshead. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 15th-highest of the 35 schools in Gateshead with published results, and 6,834th of 14,452 across England. It was 80% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Gateshead (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dunston Hill Community Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at Dunston Hill Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Gateshead and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (87% in reading, 70% in maths).
Getting a place at Dunston Hill Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 36 families put Dunston Hill Community Primary School as their first choice and 84 named it as one of their preferences, for 36 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Dunston Hill Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Dunston Hill Community Primary School are Riverside Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 86% reading, 78% maths); St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, Dunston (0.6 miles, 82% reading, 73% maths); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham (0.7 miles, 100% reading, 90% maths); and Lobley Hill Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 68% reading, 91% maths).
Dunston Hill Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Riverside Primary AcademySt Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, DunstonSt Mary's Catholic Primary School, WhickhamLobley Hill Primary School
Who goes there
11% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 61 pupils (16.9%) received SEN support and 8 (2.2%) 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 railway station is Dunston Rail Station, about 670 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Market Lane-Bank Foot (w-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 111 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 Gateshead (176).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Dunston Hill Community Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Dunston Hill Community Primary School are Kingsmeadow Community School (under 0.1 miles), Emmanuel College (0.8 miles) and Whickham School (1.4 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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 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 November 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a treasured and safe environment where pupils thrive. Reading is taught exceptionally well with expert staff who match books perfectly to each child's level, helping them become confident readers. Pupils with additional needs receive excellent, personalised support, and all children are encouraged to be leaders and make real decisions about their school.
Key Strengths
- Excellent teaching of reading with expert staff knowledge and well-matched books that help pupils become confident readers
- Strong support systems for pupils with special educational needs that are linked to individual assessment and help them learn well
- Positive behaviour and mental well-being support, with low bullying rates and high levels of respect between staff and pupils
- Effective leadership that motivates staff and supports them well
- Meaningful opportunities for pupils to develop as leaders and participate in decision-making
Areas for Improvement
- In some foundation subjects like art and design, teachers do not regularly check pupils' understanding or provide feedback, so some pupils do not get the help they need
- Some younger pupils do not form letters and numbers correctly, which affects their fluency and speed in writing
- Teachers need to ensure consistent expectations for letter and digit formation across all staff
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with all staff trained to keep pupils safe, strong relationships that help identify at-risk pupils, thorough record-keeping, and proper recruitment procedures in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Reading club, mathematics competition, netball, singing at the Sage theatre in Gateshead
Dunston Hill Community Primary School continues to be a good school where pupils are treasured and supported to learn within a caring environment based on three simple rules - ready, respect, and kind.
At a Glance
23.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 87% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 70% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 74% to 66% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.9
Avg class size
19.5
Infant (KS1)
25.4
KS2
14
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Dunston Hill Community Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Dunston Hill Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Dunston Hill Community Primary School is in Gateshead; for families living there:
Apply to Gateshead for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 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 Dunston Hill Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Dunston Hill Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Dunston Hill Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Dunston Hill Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Dunston Hill Community Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Gateshead, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Dunston Hill Community Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Gateshead 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
80%
Available places
338 pupils
420 places
82 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Gateshead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gateshead
Across Gateshead council
Places available
2,494
Applications
1,785
Got 1st preference
98.1%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Gateshead council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
61
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
19.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
362
Total Pupils
185
Boys
177
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
18.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,696
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,199
Per pupil
£2287k
Total funding
£133k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
10.9%
Persistent absence
302
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
Dunston Hill Community Primary School
Questions parents ask about Dunston Hill Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Dunston Hill Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Dunston Hill Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Dunston Hill Community Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Dunston Hill Community Primary School is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
Dunston Hill Community Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
Classes at Dunston Hill Community Primary School average 22.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
Dunston Hill Community Primary School has around 362 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Dunston Hill Community Primary School in 2024/25. 10.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming Dunston Hill Community 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 Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 7 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Dunston Hill Community Primary School?
Dunston Hill Community Primary School is at Market Lane, Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE11 9NX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)