St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton, Houghton le Spring

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 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, including those who face barriers to learning, consistently achieve well across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff know pupils extremely well."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a deep understanding of how pupils learn."

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders are highly knowledgeable about high-quality education in the early years."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders across the trust and school show excellent insight into what they do well and what needs to be better."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders spot pupils' needs quickly and accurately."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the personal development of their pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to strengthen provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This should include developing targeted support for social, emotional and mental health barriers as well as working in partnership with families"; "Leaders should ensure that the taught personal development curriculum enables pupils to develop secure and detailed knowledge over time and that the wider personal development offer is structured so that all pupils benefit fully from it".

In 2025, 97% of Year 6 pupils at St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Sunderland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 90% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 24 families put St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton as their first choice and 39 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton are Bernard Gilpin Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 92% reading, 93% maths); Gillas Lane Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 15% reading, 77% maths); Burnside Academy Inspires (0.8 miles, Good, 64% reading, 57% maths); and Eppleton Academy Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths).

St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton is one of 47 schools run by Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

8.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Black (5%).

In 2026, 25 pupils (13%) received SEN support and 2 (1%) 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.

St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Michael's Rc Primary School (s-bound), 140 metres away.

In 2024/25, St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton issued 5 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton are Kepier (0.3 miles) and Hetton Academy (1.3 miles).