Shaftoe Trust Academy, Hexham
Shaftoe Trust Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Hexham, part of Wise Academies. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, ended in a report card: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2022. Its 2024 Key Stage 2 results were the 42nd-highest of the 72 schools in Northumberland with published results, and 10,408th of 13,912 across England. It was 44% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 7 areas strong or better
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Northumberland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Shaftoe Trust Academy in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Shaftoe Trust Academy on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their education."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Attendance and behaviour are strengths of the school."
Early years - Strong standard. "The early years provision provides children with a strong foundation for future learning."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion is a significant strength of the school and is central to leaders' vision that every pupil succeeds."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders provide strong and effective leadership."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Personal development and wellbeing are significant strengths of the school."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a broad, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that identifies the essential knowledge pupils should learn across all subjects."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to develop adaptive teaching strategies and ensure that they are used consistently across all classes so that every pupil accesses the curriculum securely".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Results
In 2024, 53% of Year 6 pupils at Shaftoe Trust Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 68% in Northumberland and 76% and 74% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Shaftoe Trust Academy
For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Shaftoe Trust Academy as their first choice and 10 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 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 Shaftoe Trust Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Shaftoe Trust Academy are Newbrough Church of England Primary School (3.3 miles, 50% reading, 50% maths); and Whitfield CofE Primary School (5.4 miles, Good).
Newbrough Church of England Primary SchoolWhitfield CofE Primary School
The trust
Shaftoe Trust Academy is one of 18 schools run by Wise Academies, an academy trust.
Who goes there
2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Staffing
Shaftoe Trust Academy had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Railway station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Anchor Hotel (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, other theft and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Northumberland (44).
Suspensions and exclusions
Shaftoe Trust Academy 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; DfE school workforce census; 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 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Shaftoe Trust Academy
Pupils enjoy coming to this school and feel a strong sense of belonging. They describe feeling safe, valued and supported by adults who know them well. The school motto, ‘treat others as you would like to be treated', is lived out by pupils every day. Pupils are kind, respectful and considerate towards one another. They understand the importance of including everyone in school life. Pupils are proud of their school and demonstrate excellent manners throughout the day. They speak confidently with adults and visitors and show care for each other. They understand the importance of respecting difference and can explain why equality, diversity and protected characteristics matter. Pupils talk thoughtfully about different faiths and cultures, drawing on experiences such as visits to a mosque, synagogue and other places of worship. They recognise that learning about others helps them to understand and respect the wider world. Pupils behave very well and follow routines consistently. They move around school calmly and show positive attitudes to learning. In lessons, pupils listen carefully, contribute to discussions and work well with others. They are confident that adults will help them if they have worries and they know who their trusted adults are. Pupils understand what bullying is and say that it is rare. They are confident that staff will deal with any concerns effectively. Pupils benefit from a wide range of experiences that enrich their education. They enjoy trips, including visits to London, museums and places of interest, residential opportunities, sporting activities and leadership roles through the school council and other responsibilities. The trust's Childhood Pledge provides further opportunities for pupils to develop resilience, confidence and independence. Pupils understand the importance of healthy lifestyles, personal wellbeing and how to keep themselves safe, including online. They are ambitious, thoughtful and well prepared for their next steps. Pupils, including those with additional needs or who face barriers, are encouraged to participate fully and are supported to flourish as valued members of the school community.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to develop adaptive teaching strategies and ensure that they are used consistently across all classes so that every pupil accesses the curriculum securely.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 14 July 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Shaftoe Trust Academy excels at helping every child succeed through strong teaching, particularly in reading and mathematics, and by creating a calm, respectful environment where pupils thrive. The school is especially strong at including and supporting all learners, including those with additional needs and disadvantaged pupils, ensuring they make excellent progress. Staff are well-trained and genuinely care about pupils' wellbeing, so children feel safe, valued and confident in school.
Key Strengths
- Consistently above-average phonics outcomes and strong achievement in mathematics
- Excellent attendance rates and behaviour throughout the school
- Highly effective inclusion with strong support for pupils with additional needs and disadvantaged pupils
- Ambitious and well-planned personal development programme with enriching experiences
- Strong leadership and governance with effective trust support
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential visits, trips to London, visits to places of worship (mosque and synagogue), sporting activities, leadership opportunities, trust's Childhood Pledge
Shaftoe Trust Academy is a strong performing school that has established effective systems for monitoring pupil progress and ensuring all groups of pupils make secure progress from their starting points. The school excels in attendance, behaviour, inclusion and personal development.
At a Glance
25.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
Class Sizes
10.4
Avg class size
12.0
Infant (KS1)
11.7
KS2
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Shaftoe Trust Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Shaftoe Trust Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Shaftoe Trust Academy is in Northumberland; for families living there:
Apply to Northumberland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 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 Shaftoe Trust Academy
Will you get a place at Shaftoe Trust Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Shaftoe Trust Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Shaftoe Trust Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Shaftoe Trust Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Northumberland, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Shaftoe Trust Academy for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Northumberland 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
44%
Available places
93 pupils
210 places
117 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Hexham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hexham
Across Northumberland council
Places available
3,735
Applications
2,569
Got 1st preference
96.8%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Northumberland council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
14
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
19.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
102
Total Pupils
56
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
14.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,509
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,464
Per pupil
£703k
Total funding
£41k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.2%
Overall absence
6.3%
Persistent absence
80
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
Shaftoe Trust Academy
Questions parents ask about Shaftoe Trust Academy
What are SATs results like at Shaftoe Trust Academy?
Of the pupils at Shaftoe Trust Academy who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 53% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Shaftoe Trust Academy's Ofsted rating?
Shaftoe Trust Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Shaftoe Trust Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Shaftoe Trust Academy is oversubscribed, Northumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Shaftoe Trust Academy?
Shaftoe Trust Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 44% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Shaftoe Trust Academy?
Classes at Shaftoe Trust Academy average 10.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Shaftoe Trust Academy?
Shaftoe Trust Academy has around 102 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Shaftoe Trust Academy?
3.2% of sessions were missed at Shaftoe Trust Academy in 2024/25. 6.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Shaftoe Trust Academy?
Apply through Northumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming Shaftoe Trust Academy 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 Shaftoe Trust Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Shaftoe Trust Academy?
Shaftoe Trust Academy is at Haydon Bridge, Hexham, NE47 6BN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)