Kibblesworth Academy

About Kibblesworth Academy

Kibblesworth Academy, a state primary in Gateshead, stands out sharply against the local authority average for Key Stage 2 performance. While the Gateshead average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths sits at 64%, Kibblesworth achieves 81% — a full 17 percentage points higher. This places the school 7th out of 61 primaries in the local authority, comfortably inside the top 10 nationally by percentile. The school’s ranking score of 81 reflects strong, consistent outcomes across the three core subjects, with reading and writing both hitting 90% at the expected level and maths close behind at 86%. At the higher standard, the picture is similarly positive: 48% of pupils reach greater depth in reading, 43% in maths, and 19% in writing. The average scaled scores of 108 in maths and 109 in reading are well above the national benchmark of 100, confirming that this is a school where most children are not just meeting but exceeding expectations.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, a graded visit in 2017, rated it Good overall, with Good marks for leadership and management, early years provision, and the quality of education. An ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2015, when it was rated Requires Improvement across the board. Under headteacher Craig Steel, the school has stabilised and raised its game. With 132 pupils on roll against a capacity of 170, there is some spare capacity, but the school is oversubscribed for 2025/26: 21 first-preference applications were made for 21 places, with a total of 25 applications overall. This suggests strong local demand, though not at the level of the most competitive Gateshead primaries. The school does not have a sixth form, but does offer nursery provision for children from age three.

Kibblesworth Academy is a mixed, non-denominational primary serving a community where 15.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals — slightly above the national average but not unusually high for the North East. The school’s SEND provisions cover social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder, indicating a broad approach to inclusion. Facilities are generous for a primary of this size: a gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields, art studios, music rooms, a library, a dining hall and even a chapel. Sports include tennis, cricket, football and athletics, and clubs extend to drama, choir and science club. For families prioritising strong academic outcomes in a supportive, well-equipped setting, Kibblesworth offers a compelling option within Gateshead’s primary landscape, particularly for those who value a school that has demonstrably improved its standards over time.

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