Dinnington First School

About Dinnington First School

Dinnington First School, a state primary for children aged 3 to 9 in Newcastle upon Tyne, holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections. The school was last inspected in November 2021, when inspectors judged every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — as Good. This consistency is notable; in the previous inspection back in 2014, the school also received a Good overall, though early years provision was rated as Requires Improvement at that time, meaning the school has strengthened that area since. With 315 pupils on roll, Dinnington is close to its capacity of 333, and its oversubscription figures tell a clear story: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 153 applications for just 58 places, with 50 of those going to first-preference families. That works out at nearly three applicants for every available spot, a strong signal of local demand.

On academic outcomes, the school’s most recent Key Stage 2 results are not provided in the data, so we cannot give a precise figure for how its pupils performed in national tests. However, we do have the local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment, which stands at 63 per cent of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Dinnington’s own figure is not available for comparison, but the school’s Good Ofsted rating and its popularity with local families suggest it is performing solidly within the Newcastle upon Tyne context. Of the 72 primary schools in the local authority, only eight hold an Outstanding rating, so a Good rating places Dinnington in the majority of well-regarded schools. The school’s leadership and management were specifically praised as Good in the 2021 inspection, which often correlates with consistent teaching quality and pupil progress over time.

Dinnington offers a notably broad set of facilities for a first school, including a library, playing fields, an ICT suite, a sensory room, a forest school area and even a chapel, reflecting its multi-faith religious character. Sports provision covers football, cricket, swimming, athletics and tennis, while after-school clubs include drama, choir, chess, science club and film club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND support for moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. Nursery provision is available on site, making it a convenient option for families with younger siblings. Given its oversubscription, parents should be prepared to apply early and list Dinnington as a first preference to maximise their chances of securing a place. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-equipped, inclusive first school with strong local reputation and a clear focus on personal development alongside academics.

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