Eskdale Academy, Hartlepool

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Eskdale Academy on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have established thoughtful systems to support staff to quickly identify barriers that pupils may face."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Typically, pupils achieve outcomes in national tests that are in line with national averages by the end of Year 6."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the quality of curriculum and teaching across the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate ambition for provision in the early years to support children to have a secure and positive start to school life."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders in the trust have provided effective support through recent changes in leadership."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils benefit from a well-considered personal development programme that reflects the school's context."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders acknowledge that attendance is too low."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their work to improve attendance so that it is at least in line with national averages, ensuring that the school's recent actions are embedded so they lead to sustained reductions in persistent absence"; "Leaders should continue to embed recent changes to the curriculum and approaches to teaching across the school, to ensure that more pupils achieve highly".

In its own words: "Our school values are displayed around the school building and are reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around these core values. Eskdale Academy is committed to serving its community. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Eskdale Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Hartlepool and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 85% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Eskdale Academy as their first choice and 45 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Eskdale Academy are Grange Primary School (0.3 miles, 72% reading, 70% maths); Rossmere Academy (0.4 miles, 71% reading, 66% maths); St Teresa's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles, 62% reading, 53% maths); and Fens Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 82% reading, 88% maths).

Eskdale Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Eskdale Academy is one of 5 schools run by Eden Academy Trust Limited, 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.

52% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 62 pupils (34.6%) received SEN support and 8 (4.5%) 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 specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Eskdale Academy has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.

Eskdale Academy had 11 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Seaton Carew Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Eskdale Academy (b), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Eskdale Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

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

The secondary schools closest to Eskdale Academy are Manor Community Academy (0.4 miles) and English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College (1 mile).