Grange First School

About Grange First School

Parents considering Grange First School will find a school that is clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 217 applications for just 59 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.68. Of those applicants, 45 put Grange as their first preference, and 42 of those families were offered a place. That means a first-preference offer rate of over 93%, which is reassuring for families who have their heart set on the school. While the school does not publish a formal parent satisfaction survey, the sheer volume of applications — nearly four times the number of places — is a strong signal that local families rate it highly. The school is a state primary for children aged 3 to 9, with a nursery on site, and is led by headteacher Clare Clougher. It has a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has held consistently across its two most recent inspections.

Academically, Grange First School has maintained a Good rating from Ofsted since at least 2011, with its most recent graded inspection in that year and an ungraded visit in 2021 confirming it remains Good. The Ofsted breakdown shows Good marks for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results in the available data, so it is not possible to compare its academic performance directly against the Newcastle upon Tyne local authority average of 63% achieving the expected standard. However, the school's strong oversubscription and consistent Ofsted grade suggest it is a solid choice within the local area. For context, the local authority has eight Outstanding primary schools out of 72 total, with the nearest Outstanding option being Gosforth Park First School, 0.8 km away. Grange's Good rating places it in the majority of local schools, and its sustained performance over a decade indicates stability.

The school offers a broad range of facilities that go beyond the typical primary provision, including a forest school, art studios, music rooms, a sports hall, and even a chapel. Sports on offer include gymnastics, football, cricket, swimming, dance, and rounders, while clubs cover coding, eco club, gardening, and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, Grange has a well-documented set of SEND provisions, supporting moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school has 321 pupils against a capacity of 352, so there is some headroom, though the oversubscription figures show demand is high. With 20.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse catchment. This is a school that will suit families who value a strong local reputation, a wide range of enrichment activities, and a clear commitment to inclusive support.

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