Holley Park Academy, Washington
Holley Park Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Washington, part of Northern Lights Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 17 schools in Washington with published results, and 5,545th of 14,452 across England. It was 78% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
Holley Park Academy in detail
Holley Park Academy in its own words
In its own words: "It is a privilege to be the Head of School at Holley Park Academy. The pupils are at the heart of everything we do and we are immensely proud of them. Our staff team are devoted to providing a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment where all children can achieve their full potential and flourish as individuals."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care until 4:15pm.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Holley Park Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 84% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Sunderland and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 71% in reading and 53% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Holley Park Academy
For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Holley Park Academy as their first choice and 37 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Holley Park Academy are Lambton Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 63% reading, 58% maths); Oxclose Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 63% reading, 63% maths); St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 87% maths); and Blackfell Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 95% reading, 85% maths).
Holley Park Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Lambton Primary SchoolOxclose Primary AcademySt John Boste Catholic Primary School, WashingtonBlackfell Primary School
The trust
Holley Park Academy is one of 12 schools run by Northern Lights Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 85% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
10.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (7.4%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Road, about 2.9 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ayton Road (nw-bound), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Holley Park Academy stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Holley Park Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Holley Park Academy are Oxclose Community Academy (0.3 miles); Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy (0.9 miles); St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington (1.1 miles); and Biddick Academy (1.2 miles).
Oxclose Community AcademyLord Lawson of Beamish AcademySt Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, WashingtonBiddick Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils at Holley Park are happy, polite and considerate. They have exemplary manners. They live out the school's vision of 'work together, achieve more'. They embody the school values, 'the five Rs', which include resilience and resourcefulness. The school's curriculum further embeds these values. Staff encourage pupils to become thoughtful and compassionate members of the school community. Older pupils refer to themselves as role models for those who are younger.
Leaders have high expectations of pupils. Pupils rise to these expectations. Pupils work hard in lessons and listen carefully. They achieve well as a result. Pupils take pride in their work across the curriculum and are proud to represent the school. This pride is tangible when you enter the school. Pupils greet visitors warmly. They have excellent relationships with staff.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Since joining NLLT and following the appointment of the new headteacher and deputy headteacher, leaders have reviewed the school's curriculum carefully. They have crafted a curriculum to meet the needs of all pupils. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff make skilful adaptations to the curriculum to enable all pupils to succeed. This curriculum has firm foundations in the early years provision. The youngest children in school enjoy a vibrant learning environment. They quickly settle into established routines. Pupils develop resilience and independence. Adults model language and vocabulary clearly. Children use this vocabulary independently in their learning. Some children making papier-mâché 'planets' from balloons describe Mars as having 'dirty dust'. Others talk knowledgeably about ice melting and water freezing. In mathematics, the very youngest children confidently use vocabulary such as 'lighter' and 'heavier'. Children are ready for their next stage of education in key stage 1 as the result of quality provision and well-planned transition.
Phonics teaching is effective and purposeful. Staff teach the phonics programme with fidelity. Careful monitoring of individual pupils ensures that any gaps in phonics knowledge are addressed. As a result, pupils achieve exceptionally well. Pupils develop the skills that they need to become fluent, confident readers.
From Ofsted's June 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
10.8%
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 improved from 71% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 53% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 82% to 87% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.0
Avg class size
23.3
Infant (KS1)
22.8
KS2
8
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 Holley Park Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Holley Park Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Holley Park Academy 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
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 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 Holley Park Academy
Will you get a place at Holley Park Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Holley Park Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Holley Park Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Holley Park Academy.
- Sunderland publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Holley Park Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Holley Park Academy for 2014 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
78%
Available places
191 pupils
245 places
54 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Washington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Washington
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
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
7.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
204
Total Pupils
104
Boys
100
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
20.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,707
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,149
Per pupil
£1076k
Total funding
£32k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.7%
Overall absence
4.6%
Persistent absence
174
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
Questions parents ask about Holley Park Academy
What are SATs results like at Holley Park Academy?
Of the pupils at Holley Park Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 84% did so in maths.
What is Holley Park Academy's Ofsted rating?
Holley Park Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Holley Park Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Holley Park Academy is oversubscribed, Sunderland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Holley Park Academy?
Holley Park Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 78% of its 245 places.
How big are the classes at Holley Park Academy?
Classes at Holley Park Academy average 23 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 Holley Park Academy?
Holley Park Academy has around 204 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Holley Park Academy?
3.7% of sessions were missed at Holley Park Academy in 2024/25. 4.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Holley Park Academy?
Apply through Sunderland's coordinated admissions process, naming Holley Park Academy 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 Holley Park Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Sunderland is 13 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Holley Park Academy?
Holley Park Academy is at Ayton Road, Oxclose, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE38 0LR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)