Whinstone Primary School, Stockton-on-Tees

Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Whinstone Primary School on 7 areas: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders' work to tackle persistent absence has been successful."

Early years - Strong standard. "Before children start in the early years, staff get to know them and their families well."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders create a highly inclusive culture that ensures all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, experience success."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development programme provides rich opportunities for pupils to learn about different cultures, faiths, local and world events."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well in reading and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have made well-considered improvements to the curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders consider a range of evidence to evaluate the school's strengths and identify areas for improvement."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "School leaders and governors should continue to strengthen leadership expertise so that all leaders contribute effectively to school improvement"; "Leaders should embed their work to strengthen important foundational skills, particularly in writing, so that the accuracy of pupils' writing improves across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that improvements in attendance are sustained so that more pupils do not miss out on important learning".

In its own words: "The schools aims are set out below. We always do our best to improve on what we have already achieved and in doing so endeavour to ensure that the rhetoric of these aims is turned into reality."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £5.00 per morning.

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Whinstone Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 78% in Stockton-on-Tees and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 78% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 35 families put Whinstone Primary School as their first choice and 72 named it as one of their preferences, for 36 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 Whinstone Primary School are St Francis of Assisi Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 82% maths); St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Catholic Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 94% reading, 84% maths); Myton Park Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 83% reading, 80% maths); and Barley Fields Primary (0.7 miles, 86% reading, 79% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Whinstone Primary School.

Whinstone Primary School is one of 15 schools run by Spark Education Trust, an academy trust.

14.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 9.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Asian (8%).

In 2026, 37 pupils (8.3%) received SEN support and 17 (3.8%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Eaglescliffe Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Teal Arms (a), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Whinstone Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 6th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Whinstone Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Whinstone Primary School are All Saints Church of England Academy (0.6 miles); Ingleby Manor Free School (1 mile); Thornaby Academy (1.5 miles); and St Patrick's Catholic College, A Voluntary Catholic Academy (1.5 miles).