Hexham First School, Hexham

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades Hexham First School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear oversight of attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have implemented an effective curriculum in the early years which helps children to get off to a positive start."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff know their pupils well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school has recently experienced a period of uncertainty which has impacted on the effectiveness of some aspects of the school's work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils access a suitable personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Inconsistencies in teaching mean that a minority of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make variable progress across the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There is variability in the quality of teaching across subjects and year groups."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), quickly secure their foundational knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics so that they can make secure progress across the wider curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that they embed highly effective teaching across all subjects so that all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with SEND, develop the knowledge and skills they need for their next steps"; "Leaders should ensure the impact of the pupil premium strategy is closely monitored to make sure it is making a positive difference to the experiences of pupils who are disadvantaged".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, choir and STEM.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.

For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Hexham First School as their first choice and 18 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Hexham First School are St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham (0.7 miles, Good); The Sele First School (0.8 miles, Good); Beaufront First School (1.9 miles, Good); and Acomb First School (1.9 miles, Good).

39.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 20 pupils (29.4%) received SEN support and 5 (7.4%) 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.

Hexham First School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Hexham Station, about 750 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dean Park House (outside), 300 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hexham First School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 90 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Northumberland (44), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Hexham First School issued 17 suspensions, 20.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Hexham First School are Hexham Middle School (0.4 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham (1.1 miles); and Queen Elizabeth High School (1.2 miles).