Hipsburn Primary School, Alnwick
Hipsburn Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Alnwick. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 46th-highest of the 73 schools in Northumberland with published results, and 9,982nd of 14,452 across England. It was 69% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Northumberland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hipsburn Primary School in detail
Hipsburn Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We have a shared vision of what makes a good school and this vision influences all that we do. We all work very hard, we work together as a team and we have fun. We believe that a truly happy atmosphere is fundamental to a child's relaxed and confident progress. You will often hear laughter at Hipsburn."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:15am.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Hipsburn Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Northumberland and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 75% in reading and 55% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Hipsburn Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Hipsburn Primary School as their first choice and 22 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Hipsburn Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Hipsburn Primary School are Longhoughton Church of England Primary School (2.6 miles); Shilbottle Primary School (2.6 miles); St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Alnwick (2.9 miles, 84% reading, 88% maths); and Swansfield Park Primary School (3.3 miles).
Longhoughton Church of England Primary SchoolShilbottle Primary SchoolSt Paul's Catholic Primary School, AlnwickSwansfield Park Primary School
Who goes there
3.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (91%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 11 pupils (10.8%) received SEN support and 5 (4.9%) 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 autism.
Staffing
Hipsburn Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Railway station, about 630 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is First School (adjacent), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Northumberland (44).
Suspensions and exclusions
Hipsburn Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
3.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 55% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.5
Avg class size
26.0
Infant (KS1)
21.3
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Hipsburn Primary School
Weekly Celebration Awards
2 Oct 2026
Summer Reading Challenge
9 Jul 2026
Hipsburn Wow the Crowds!
23 Jun 2026
Gardening Club
28 Apr 2026
Mr Moloney's 10 Year Anniversary
22 Apr 2026
From Hipsburn Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Hipsburn Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hipsburn Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hipsburn Primary School is in Northumberland; for families living there:
Apply to Northumberland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 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 Hipsburn Primary School
Will you get a place at Hipsburn Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Hipsburn Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Hipsburn Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Hipsburn Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Northumberland, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Hipsburn Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Northumberland 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
69%
Available places
102 pupils
147 places
45 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Alnwick
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Alnwick
Across Northumberland council
Places available
3,735
Applications
2,569
Got 1st preference
96.8%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Northumberland council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
15.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
102
Total Pupils
53
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
14.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,457
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,166
Per pupil
£670k
Total funding
£11k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
3.3%
Persistent absence
91
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Hipsburn Primary School
What are SATs results like at Hipsburn Primary School?
Of the pupils at Hipsburn Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Hipsburn Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Hipsburn Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2009 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hipsburn Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Hipsburn Primary School is oversubscribed, Northumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Hipsburn Primary School?
Hipsburn Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 69% of its 147 places.
How big are the classes at Hipsburn Primary School?
Classes at Hipsburn Primary School average 22.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Hipsburn Primary School?
Hipsburn Primary School has around 102 pupils on roll. 4% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Hipsburn Primary School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Hipsburn Primary School in 2024/25. 3.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hipsburn Primary School?
Apply through Northumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming Hipsburn 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.
How many road collisions happen near Hipsburn Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hipsburn Primary School?
Hipsburn Primary School is at Lesbury, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3PX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)