New Penshaw Academy, Houghton le Spring

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to New Penshaw Academy, where our goal is to inspire everyone to achieve their very best. New Penshaw Academy is a school where individuals are valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. We are a small school but have a great big heart!"

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at New Penshaw Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Sunderland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 71% in reading and 71% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 13 families put New Penshaw Academy as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 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 New Penshaw Academy are Barnwell Academy (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 75% reading, 81% maths); Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Penshaw (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 79% reading, 75% maths); Shiney Row Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 75% reading, 79% maths); and Fatfield Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 85% reading, 85% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than New Penshaw Academy.

New Penshaw Academy is one of 5 schools run by Inspire Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

38.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 31 pupils (27.7%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.

New Penshaw Academy has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 10 places, 3 pupils on roll.

New Penshaw Academy had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

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

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Oaks (se-bound), 170 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood New Penshaw Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 95 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sunderland (148).

In 2024/25, New Penshaw Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to New Penshaw Academy are St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington (1.3 miles); and Biddick Academy (1.4 miles).