Waterville Primary School, North Shields

In its own words: "At Waterville Primary School pupils, parents, staff and governors will work in partnership as a whole school community to maintain the positive ethos of our school, and to continually raise pupils' achievements by promoting a high quality education which equips children emotionally, physically, intellectually and morally, and which develops high aspirations, a positive self image, tolerance and respect for all."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, gymnastics, badminton, choir, guitar, chess, Lego, STEM and cooking.

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at Waterville Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in North Tyneside and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 81% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Waterville Primary School as their first choice and 38 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Waterville Primary School are St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, North Shields (0.3 miles, 89% reading, 89% maths); Riverside Primary School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 73% reading, 64% maths); Spring Gardens Primary School (0.5 miles, 61% reading, 61% maths); and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, North Shields (0.5 miles, Good, 68% reading, 58% maths).

Waterville Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Waterville Primary School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

60.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 63 pupils (30.1%) received SEN support and 28 (13.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Waterville Primary School has a resourced provision (14 places, 14 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (12 places, 12 pupils on roll) for speech, language and communication needs.

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

The nearest tram or metro stop is North Shields (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 620 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Waterville Rd-Upper Elsdon St (sw-bound), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Waterville Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 538 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Tyneside (232), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Waterville Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Waterville Primary School are Norham High School (0.7 miles), John Spence Community High School (1.3 miles), St Thomas More Catholic High School (1.3 miles) and Kings Priory School (1.6 miles).