Hetton Lyons Primary School, Houghton le Spring
Hetton Lyons Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Houghton le Spring, part of Tyne and Wear Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2013. That was 12 years ago, so the rating may not reflect the school today. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 17 schools in Houghton le Spring with published results, and 7,614th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% 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 Sunderland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hetton Lyons Primary School in detail
Hetton Lyons Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a real privilege to welcome you to Hetton Lyons Primary School. At Hetton Lyons, we believe every child deserves to feel happy, safe and valued."
The school runs a breakfast club from 6:30am and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Hetton Lyons Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% 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 (73% in reading, 82% in maths).
Getting a place at Hetton Lyons Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 49 families put Hetton Lyons Primary School as their first choice and 73 named it as one of their preferences, for 49 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 Hetton Lyons Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Hetton Lyons Primary School are Hetton Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 62% reading, 65% maths); Easington Lane Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths); Eppleton Academy Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths); and East Rainton Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 83% maths).
Hetton Lyons Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Hetton Primary SchoolEasington Lane Primary SchoolEppleton Academy Primary SchoolEast Rainton Primary School
The trust
Hetton Lyons Primary School is one of 6 schools run by Tyne and Wear Learning Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
52 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hetton Lyons Primary School (as of April 2026): 87% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Who goes there
1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Hetton Lyons Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Hetton Lyons Primary School.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is North Road (nw-bound), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hetton Lyons Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 82 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sunderland (148).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hetton Lyons Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 1.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 9 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hetton Lyons Primary School excels at supporting the whole child, with particularly strong personal development that helps pupils understand British values, diversity and healthy relationships. The school is highly inclusive, quickly identifying and meeting the needs of all pupils including those facing barriers to learning. Teachers and leaders work closely with families and external agencies to ensure every child feels valued, safe and ready to learn.
Key Strengths
- Personal development is exceptional, with a carefully designed curriculum enhanced by partnerships with external agencies like the fire service and community health professionals
- Safeguarding is strong with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils feel safe
- Pupils' behaviour and attendance are good, with calm, orderly classrooms and effective strategies to support vulnerable groups
- Inclusion is at the heart of the school's work, with prompt identification of needs and responsive support for all pupils
- Leadership and governance are effective, with high expectations and accurate evaluation of the school's strengths and areas for development
Areas for Improvement
- Too few pupils reached the higher standard in reading in 2025, which leaders are addressing
- Progress in writing for some pupils could be better
- Assessment checks to identify pupils' starting points and address misconceptions are not consistent across the school
- Pencil grip weaknesses were identified as children moved from early years into key stage 1 (though new handwriting curriculum is now showing impact)
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders fulfilling their responsibilities and establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, leadership roles such as 'friends against bullying', guest speakers, educational visits, weekly assemblies, visits to places of worship
Hetton Lyons Primary School is a well-led school where pupils achieve well and personal development is a significant strength. The school has created a safe, inclusive environment where all pupils, including the most vulnerable, are well supported and prepared for life beyond school.
At a Glance
27.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
52 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 73% to 68% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.7
Avg class size
28.8
Infant (KS1)
28.7
KS2
15
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Hetton Lyons Primary School
Before and after school care
Hetton Lyons Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Sunderland
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hetton Lyons Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hetton Lyons 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
- 29
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 12
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 21 slight.
12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
10 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 Hetton Lyons Primary School
Will you get a place at Hetton Lyons Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Hetton Lyons Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Hetton Lyons Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Hetton Lyons Primary School.
- Sunderland publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Hetton Lyons Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Hetton Lyons Primary School for 2017 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
98%
Near capacity
425 pupils
435 places
10 spare places 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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
81
SEN Support
21
EHC Plans
23.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hetton Lyons Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
431
Total Pupils
219
Boys
212
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
20.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,112
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,245
Per pupil
£2545k
Total funding
£179k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
15.5%
Persistent absence
381
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
Hetton Lyons Primary School
Questions parents ask about Hetton Lyons Primary School
What are SATs results like at Hetton Lyons Primary School?
Of the pupils at Hetton Lyons Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% reached the expected standard in reading and 85% did so in maths.
What is Hetton Lyons Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Hetton Lyons Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Hetton Lyons Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Hetton Lyons 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 Hetton Lyons Primary School?
Hetton Lyons Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Hetton Lyons Primary School?
Classes at Hetton Lyons Primary School average 28.7 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Hetton Lyons Primary School?
Hetton Lyons Primary School has around 431 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hetton Lyons Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Hetton Lyons Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Hetton Lyons Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Hetton Lyons Primary School in 2024/25. 15.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hetton Lyons Primary School?
Apply through Sunderland's coordinated admissions process, naming Hetton Lyons 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.
Does Hetton Lyons Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Hetton Lyons Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Hetton Lyons Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 21 slight. 12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 10 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 Hetton Lyons Primary School?
Hetton Lyons Primary School is at Four Lane Ends, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH5 0AH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)