Portobello Primary School, Chester le Street
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Portobello Primary creates a genuinely welcoming environment where children feel safe and valued. The school has made real improvements in writing and reading by investing in quality resources and staff training, and pupils now demonstrate growing confidence in these subjects. Staff have a real care for pupils' wellbeing and create the kind of friendly, encouraging atmosphere that makes learning enjoyable.
Key Strengths
- Improved writing outcomes across key stages 1 and 2, with pupils using interesting vocabulary and complex grammar
- Strong focus on reading development with well-matched books and improved phonics teaching
- Positive school culture with respectful relationships between staff and pupils
- Good quality professional development and support for teachers
- Effective safeguarding arrangements with clear child protection procedures
Areas for Improvement
- Early years children lack sufficient challenge in writing and mathematical tasks
- Some early years adults have expectations that are too low
- Subject leaders need stronger skills in tracking pupil progress and creating focused improvement plans
- School improvement plans need clearer success measures and outcomes
- Some foundation subject leaders are still developing their leadership skills
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective, with proper arrangements in place, regular staff training, strong partnerships with external agencies, and pupils understanding how to keep themselves safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Art, physical education
Portobello Primary School continues to be good, maintaining quality education since the 2014 inspection. The school has successfully improved writing and teaching quality while creating a warm, welcoming environment where pupils behave well and feel safe.
At a Glance
18.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 77%. Maths has declined from 86% to 81%. Writing has declined from 82% to 74%.
Class Sizes
26.9
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
28.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
87%
Available places
182 pupils
210 capacity
28 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Chester le Street
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chester le Street
Admissions Demand - Gateshead
Places available
2,504
Applications
1,789
Got 1st preference
96.9%
Got preferred school
99.8%
Primary admissions across Gateshead (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.30554%
Overall absence
12.7907%
Persistent absence
172
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Portobello Primary School
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