Hetton Lyons Primary School, Houghton le Spring
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
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
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 73% to 68%. Maths has remained stable at around 85%. Writing has remained stable at around 78%.
Class Sizes
28.5
Avg class size
28.7
Infant (KS1)
28.4
KS2
15
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
103%
Over capacity
431 pupils
420 capacity
11 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Houghton le Spring
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Houghton le Spring
Admissions Demand - Sunderland
Places available
3,460
Applications
2,785
Got 1st preference
95.4%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Sunderland (2025/26)
Inspection History(5)
House Prices
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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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.35979%
Overall absence
15.48556%
Persistent absence
381
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Hetton Lyons Primary School
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