Portobello Primary School, Chester le Street
Portobello Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Chester le Street. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 9th-highest of the 16 schools in Chester le Street with published results, and 6,288th of 14,452 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- 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 Gateshead (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Portobello Primary School in detail
Portobello Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Our school reflects British values in all that we do. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am, from £3.00 per day.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Portobello Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Gateshead and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 79% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Portobello Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 30 families put Portobello Primary School as their first choice and 73 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Portobello Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Portobello Primary School are Barley Mow Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 60% reading, 63% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley (0.5 miles, 94% reading, 94% maths); Ravensworth Terrace Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 78% maths); and Holley Park Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 77% reading, 84% maths).
Portobello Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Barley Mow Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Junior School, BirtleyRavensworth Terrace Primary SchoolHolley Park Academy
Who goes there
5.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 32 pupils (17.6%) received SEN support and 5 (2.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Road, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Glenluce (s-bound), 190 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 84 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176).
Suspensions and exclusions
Portobello Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Portobello Primary School are Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy (0.4 miles) and Oxclose Community Academy (1.1 miles).
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 October 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Portobello provides a calm, caring environment where children feel safe and known by staff. The school excels at teaching reading and maths through well-planned lessons that help pupils remember and build on what they've learned. Pupils with additional needs receive expert support, and all children are encouraged to develop leadership skills and become responsible citizens.
Key Strengths
- Well-sequenced curriculum with clear learning goals in all subjects, starting from early years
- Strong phonics programme with regular assessment and quick intervention for pupils who need extra help
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, including one-to-one teaching from skilled teaching assistants
- Positive relationships between adults and pupils that create a good foundation for learning
- Pupils develop leadership skills through school council and other responsibilities
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils cannot readily recall knowledge about different faiths and religions and confuse different religions
- The curriculum for personal, social and health education needs to be developed to raise awareness of different faiths and beliefs in greater depth
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
football club, performing arts club, Rights Responsible club (community and charity work), Matilda production
Portobello Primary School continues to be a good school, providing a calm and welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and are encouraged to achieve well. Staff know pupils and their families very well, and the school has strong systems in place for teaching and supporting all learners.
At a Glance
18.7%
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 remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 82% to 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.8
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
27.8
KS2
6
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Portobello Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Portobello Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Portobello Primary School is in Gateshead; for families living there:
Apply to Gateshead 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
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
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, 1 serious and 3 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
1 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 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 Portobello Primary School
Will you get a place at Portobello Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Portobello Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Portobello Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Portobello Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Gateshead, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Portobello Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Gateshead 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
91%
Near capacity
187 pupils
206 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Chester le Street
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chester le Street
Across Gateshead council
Places available
2,494
Applications
1,785
Got 1st preference
98.1%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Gateshead council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
32
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
20.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
182
Total Pupils
93
Boys
89
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
20.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,056
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,346
Per pupil
£1122k
Total funding
£52k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
12.8%
Persistent absence
172
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
Portobello Primary School
Questions parents ask about Portobello Primary School
What are SATs results like at Portobello Primary School?
Of the pupils at Portobello Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Portobello Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Portobello Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 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 Portobello Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Portobello Primary School is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Portobello Primary School?
Portobello Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 206 places.
How big are the classes at Portobello Primary School?
Classes at Portobello Primary School average 26.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Portobello Primary School?
Portobello Primary School has around 182 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Portobello Primary School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Portobello Primary School in 2024/25. 12.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Portobello Primary School?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming Portobello 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 Portobello 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, 1 serious and 3 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 1 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Portobello Primary School?
Portobello Primary School is at Tamerton Drive, Birtley, Chester le Street, County Durham, DH3 2LY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)