Marsden Primary School, Sunderland
Marsden Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Sunderland. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 17th-highest of the 43 schools in Sunderland with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 87% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to South Tyneside (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Marsden Primary School in detail
Marsden Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "At Marsden Primary School we believe “Everyone cares. Everyone matters”. We are committed to providing a school where children, parents and staff are valued and where we give everyone the opportunity to feel good about their own achievements and the achievements of others, in a safe, challenging, varied environment."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am, from £2.50 per day.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Marsden Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 76% in South Tyneside and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 91% in reading and 91% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Marsden Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 21 families put Marsden Primary School as their first choice and 53 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Marsden Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Marsden Primary School are Whitburn Village Primary School (0.8 miles); Harton Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 76% reading, 78% maths); Cleadon Church of England Academy (1.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 86% maths); and Seaburn Dene Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 92% reading, 88% maths).
Marsden Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Whitburn Village Primary SchoolHarton Primary SchoolCleadon Church of England AcademySeaburn Dene Primary School
Who goes there
0.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 53 pupils (25.4%) received SEN support and 3 (1.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Seaburn (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mill Lane-Lilac Avenue (s-bound), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 28 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in South Tyneside (182).
Suspensions and exclusions
Marsden 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; 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from February 2014, 12 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 Insights
From Ofsted's September 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Marsden Primary is a caring school where children are happy and feel safe. The school develops the whole child through strong teaching in reading and maths, excellent behaviour support, and enriching activities like clubs, visits and leadership opportunities. Parents love how the school balances academic learning with personal growth.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well in reading and mathematics with clear, well-sequenced teaching
- Exemplary pupil behaviour and positive, respectful relationships throughout the school
- Strong personal development with leadership roles, enrichment clubs and visits that develop the whole child
- Effective teaching of phonics with well-matched books and enthusiastic pupils who love reading
- Calm, positive learning environment where children settle quickly and take pride in their work
Areas for Improvement
- In some foundation subjects like geography, the order of what pupils learn is not clearly sequenced enough
- Staff training for the revised curriculum in some foundation subjects has not been completed
- Approaches to help pupils remember and recall important knowledge in foundation subjects need to be more effective
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with an 'eyes on the child' approach ensuring staff are vigilant for vulnerable pupils.
Extracurricular Activities
Before and after-school clubs, school council, house captain roles, residential trips including London visit, author virtual online visits
Marsden Primary School continues to be a good school that is welcoming, inclusive and caring. Pupils achieve well in reading and mathematics, with strong behaviour and exemplary personal development.
At a Glance
24.4%
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 declined from 91% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 91% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
17.5
Avg class size
22.7
Infant (KS1)
28.3
KS2
10
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Marsden Primary School
Anti-bullying workshop
1 Oct 2026
Types of Skeleton 🩻
1 Oct 2026
Football Season Starts ⚽️
1 Oct 2026
Year 4 & 5 Parliament Assembly
1 Oct 2026
Open the Book 29.09.2026
29 Sep 2026
Vernon Visits Marsden
28 Sep 2026
From Marsden Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Marsden Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Marsden Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Marsden Primary School is in South Tyneside; for families living there:
Apply to South Tyneside for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 South Tyneside is 13 (the median across 64 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 Marsden Primary School
Will you get a place at Marsden Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Marsden Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Marsden Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Marsden Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from South Tyneside, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Marsden Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in South Tyneside 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
87%
Available places
182 pupils
210 places
28 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sunderland
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sunderland
Across South Tyneside council
Places available
1,822
Applications
1,375
Got 1st preference
96.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across South Tyneside council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
53
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
26.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
209
Total Pupils
113
Boys
96
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
19.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,364
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,788
Per pupil
£1184k
Total funding
£74k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
10.9%
Persistent absence
165
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
Marsden Primary School
Questions parents ask about Marsden Primary School
What are SATs results like at Marsden Primary School?
Of the pupils at Marsden Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Marsden Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Marsden Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Marsden Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Marsden Primary School is oversubscribed, South Tyneside allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Marsden Primary School?
Marsden Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 87% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Marsden Primary School?
Classes at Marsden Primary School average 17.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Marsden Primary School?
Marsden Primary School has around 209 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Marsden Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Marsden Primary School in 2024/25. 10.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Marsden Primary School?
Apply through South Tyneside's coordinated admissions process, naming Marsden 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 Marsden Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 South Tyneside is 13 (the median across 64 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Marsden Primary School?
Marsden Primary School is at Mill Lane, Whitburn, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR6 7HJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)