Ashley Academy

About Ashley Academy

Ashley Academy’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit below the South Tyneside local authority average, a gap that parents will want to weigh carefully. The school recorded 57% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a LA average of 64%. That places Ashley Academy 28th out of 45 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the bottom half locally and the bottom 50% nationally. The picture is mixed when you look at individual subjects: 72% hit the expected level in reading and 70% in both maths and writing, but only 4% reached the higher standard across all three subjects. The maths average score of 103 and reading average of 105 are both close to the national benchmark of 100, suggesting the school is broadly in line on core skills even if the combined headline figure lags behind.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025 marked a dramatic turnaround from its previous rating of Inadequate in 2021. While the overall effectiveness was not formally judged on this occasion, every graded area was rated either Good or Outstanding. Leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development all received Outstanding, as did early years provision. The quality of education was judged Good. This is a school that has clearly undergone significant improvement, and the inspection report will be essential reading for any parent wanting to understand the trajectory. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 88% of respondents to the Parent View survey agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 90% felt their child is safe. 79% would recommend the school to other parents.

Ashley Academy is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 74 applications for 35 places, with 34 of those coming as first preferences. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 42.6%, well above the national average, and it offers a broad range of SEND support covering areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Facilities include a library, forest school, sensory room and chapel, while clubs range from gardening and coding to science and film. Sports on offer include swimming, netball, cricket and dance. For families who value strong pastoral care and a school that has demonstrably improved its standards, Ashley Academy is worth a close look, though the KS2 outcomes suggest it may not yet be the strongest academic choice in South Tyneside.

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