Oxclose Primary Academy, Washington

Ofsted's report card from its 15 September 2026 inspection grades Oxclose Primary Academy on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that children get off to a positive start to their education in the early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders successfully ensure that the school meets the precise needs of the high proportion of pupils who face barriers to learning and/or wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils generally secure the basic foundations in reading, handwriting, mathematics and communication."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Rates of attendance are close to the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Since the previous inspection, leaders have focused successfully on improving further the quality of the curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Skilled and effective leaders have developed a highly inclusive culture."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure pupils follow an ambitious personal development programme that supports pupils' wider development well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should develop and embed their work to improve attendance and reduce persistent and severe absence"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching is of a consistently high quality so that pupils improve their attainment further and develop a secure and detailed knowledge across the academic and personal, social and health education curriculums".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a mainstream primary academy with a resourced provision for children with physical and/or medical needs. We are very proud of our school and our wonderful children, so it is lovely to have a site where we can share some of what is happening here in school with you. We urge you to have a good look around!"

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football and choir.

The school runs a breakfast club.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 26 October 2026, an open day on Tuesday 27 October 2026, an open day on Wednesday 28 October 2026 and an open day on Thursday 29 October 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at Oxclose Primary 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 80% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 30 families put Oxclose Primary Academy as their first choice and 45 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Oxclose Primary Academy are St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington (0.1 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 87% maths); Holley Park Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 77% reading, 84% maths); Blackfell Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 95% reading, 85% maths); and Lambton Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 63% reading, 58% maths).

Oxclose Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Oxclose Primary Academy is one of 11 schools run by The Laidlaw Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 66% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

56.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 3.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 40 pupils (21.9%) received SEN support and 19 (10.4%) 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 autism.

Oxclose Primary Academy has a resourced provision for physical disability: 7 places, 8 pupils on roll.

Oxclose Primary Academy had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Station Road, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Raby Road - Dilston Close (nw-bound), 130 metres away.

In 2024/25, Oxclose Primary Academy issued 3 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Oxclose Primary Academy are Oxclose Community Academy (0.1 miles), Biddick Academy (1.1 miles), Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy (1.1 miles) and Washington Academy (1.1 miles).