Fordley Primary School, Cramlington

Outstanding
Primary
Foundation school
Mixed
Ages 211

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~853m)Possible (~1.2km)Unlikely (~1.6km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Claire Withers
Pupils:377 / 420 capacity
LA:North Tyneside
Phone:01912502207
Address:Dudley Drive, Dudley, Cramlington, NE23 7AL
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 2 years ago
-

Overall

Good

Quality of Education

Good

Behaviour & Attitudes

Good

Personal Development

Good

Leadership & Management

Good

Early Years

Inspected 27 November 2024View full report
URN:108611
UKPRN:10069375
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Cramlington and Killingworth
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The school excels at teaching children to read fluently and with good comprehension, with most pupils reading at a high level by the end of primary school. Teachers are well-trained in their subjects and use effective strategies to help all pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils and those needing extra support, make strong progress. Children benefit from warm, caring relationships with staff and develop positive attitudes to learning while learning about different faiths and respecting differences.

Key Strengths

  • Strong phonics teaching with improved outcomes in 2024 after swift action to address previous weaknesses
  • Excellent support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, with effective identification systems and external specialist involvement
  • High-quality reading teaching that helps most pupils achieve highly in reading by the end of key stage 2
  • Pupils develop positive character traits through the school's 'respect' values and feel confident reporting bullying issues
  • Effective leadership and strong teamwork among staff, with governors providing good support and challenge

Areas for Improvement

  • Staff do not consistently address weaknesses in early writing skills (motor skills, pencil grip, letter formation, sentence construction), leading pupils to progress to complex tasks before ready
  • Some interactions between adults and children in early years are not precise enough and do not effectively develop children's language or learning
  • Attendance remains an area of focus with some pupils not attending regularly enough despite school initiatives

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school ensures pupils know how to keep themselves safe online and in the community.

Extracurricular Activities

Coding, fencing, archery, educational visits including residential trips, nature reserve projects with local volunteers

Fordley Primary School is a Good school where pupils enjoy positive relationships with staff and feel safe and happy. The school provides an ambitious, broad curriculum designed to help all pupils achieve well.

At a Glance

36.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

36 responses
Would recommend75%
Child is happy86%
Well taught78%
Good progress78%
Feels safe81%
Well behaved75%
Bullying dealt with25%
Kept informed81%
Handles concerns64%
Wider development69%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-6ppMaths-7ppWriting-1pp

Reading has declined from 87% to 81%. Maths has declined from 81% to 74%. Writing has remained stable at around 69%.

Class Sizes

24.2

Avg class size

20.5

Infant (KS1)

25.5

KS2

13

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Fern Drive-Number 92 (W-Bound)
117m · 2 min walk
Fern Drive-Library (E-Bound)
125m · 2 min walk
Fern Drive - Market Street (E-Bound)
249m · 4 min walk
Dudley Lane-Meadowbank (S-Bound)
304m · 5 min walk
Fern Drive-Annitsford Drive (W-Bound)
343m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

90%

Near capacity

377 pupils

420 capacity

43 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Cramlington

Low pressure
New homes approved:658
Projected new pupils:165

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Cramlington

Admissions Demand - North Tyneside

Low demand0.81x oversubscription

Places available

2,530

Applications

2,044

Got 1st preference

92.4%

Got preferred school

97.5%

Primary admissions across North Tyneside (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

27 November 2024
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
Early YearsGood
13 March 2013
OutstandingReport
Leadership & ManagementOutstanding
3 July 2012

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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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.82384%

Overall absence

15.7377%

Persistent absence

305

Enrolments

Authorised3.77578%
Unauthorised2.04806%
Persistent (10%+)15.7377%
Severe (50%+)0.32787%

Absence trend

4.62863%
18/19
3.57977%
20/21
6.37703%
21/22
6.54271%
22/23
7.20918%
23/24
5.82384%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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