John F Kennedy Primary School, Washington

Ofsted's report card from its 13 January 2026 inspection grades John F Kennedy Primary 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 prioritised increasing pupils' attendance by working closely with families and introducing clear systems to tackle poor attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "In recent years, increasing numbers of children have entered the early years with additional needs."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Inclusion is at the forefront of the school's work."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors act in the best interests of pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders place a very high importance on pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Currently, pupils do not progress well enough through the curriculum as a whole."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Some pupils across the school have gaps in their basic knowledge, particularly in writing and handwriting."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should continue to strengthen assessment systems, supporting teachers to consistently check pupils' understanding, and use this information to adapt their teaching so that pupils' knowledge is secure. • Leaders should ensure greater consistency across the school in how staff address pupils' gaps in foundational knowledge, so that pupils learn the essential knowledge and skills they need to achieve more highly across the curriculum. • Leaders should refine curriculum design in the wider curriculum by identifying essential knowledge and clear endpoints, so that pupils learn in a well ordered and progressive way and are better prepared for their next steps".

In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at John F Kennedy Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Sunderland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 81% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 33 families put John F Kennedy Primary School as their first choice and 61 named it as one of their preferences, for 33 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to John F Kennedy Primary School are Barmston Village Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 80% reading, 64% maths); Biddick Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 93% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Washington (0.5 miles, Good, 94% reading, 88% maths); and Wessington Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 47% reading, 40% maths).

John F Kennedy Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

John F Kennedy Primary School is one of 7 schools run by Oak Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about John F Kennedy Primary School (as of April 2026): 79% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 23% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (23%).

3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 102 pupils (24.8%) received SEN support and 31 (7.5%) 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 autism.

John F Kennedy Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 24 places, 24 pupils on roll.

The nearest tram or metro stop is South Hylton (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is JFK Primary School (sw-bound), 10 metres away.

In 2024/25, John F Kennedy Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to John F Kennedy Primary School are Biddick Academy (0.5 miles); St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington (0.8 miles); Washington Academy (0.8 miles); and Oxclose Community Academy (1.3 miles).