Barley Mow Primary School

About Barley Mow Primary School

Barley Mow Primary School in Gateshead is a smaller-than-average primary, with 166 pupils on roll against a capacity of 262, so there is plenty of physical space for growth. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: 41.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 24%. Despite this, demand is strong. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 34 applications for 22 places, with 21 of those coming as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.55. All 21 first-preference families were offered a place, meaning the school is popular but not impossible to get into if you live nearby. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age three (it has a nursery) through to Year 6.

Academically, Barley Mow is a solidly performing school, though not among the highest-flying in Gateshead. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just below the local authority average of 64%. The school ranks 38th out of 61 primaries in Gateshead on this measure, placing it in the bottom half of the LA. Individual subject scores show reading and maths both averaging 101 and 102 respectively, with 17% of pupils reaching the higher standard in each. Writing is weaker, with only 6% achieving greater depth. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds, but the most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, a rating it has held consistently since at least 2010.

The school offers a practical, well-resourced environment. Facilities include an ICT suite, a forest school area, playing fields, a sensory room and even a chapel, which is unusual for a non-religious school. Sports provision is broad, with swimming, gymnastics, football, dance and athletics among the options, plus clubs for drama, choir and film. SEND support is a clear strength: the school lists provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, visual impairment, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. For families who want a Good-rated primary with strong pastoral and SEND infrastructure, a nursery on site and a genuinely oversubscribed but accessible intake, Barley Mow is a realistic choice. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is St Joseph's Catholic Junior School in Birtley, 1.1 km away.

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