Lambton Primary School

About Lambton Primary School

Lambton Primary School in Sunderland was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, and a subsequent ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed that it remains Good. The school’s early years provision, however, was judged Outstanding in that 2024 visit. When it comes to academic outcomes at the end of Key Stage 2, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 55 per cent. That figure sits below the Sunderland local authority average of 67 per cent, and it places the school 63rd out of 73 primary schools in the borough. Nationally, Lambton ranks in the bottom half of all primary schools on this measure, at the 68th percentile. The school’s overall ranking score of 55 puts it in the bottom 50 tier nationally, though it is worth noting that the school serves a community where a quarter of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

Looking more closely at the individual subjects, 68 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading and the same proportion in writing, while 64 per cent did so in maths. The average scaled scores for reading and maths were both 103, which is just above the national baseline of 100. At the higher standard, the picture is more mixed: 9 per cent of pupils achieved a high score in maths, 9 per cent in writing, and just 5 per cent in reading. No pupils reached the higher standard in all three subjects combined. Compared with its previous Ofsted inspection in 2008, when the school was rated Outstanding overall, the current Good rating represents a step down. The leadership and management and the quality of education were both judged Good in 2019, while early years provision has improved from a Requires Improvement rating in 2008 to Outstanding in 2024.

Lambton Primary is a mixed, non-denominational state school for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It has capacity for 210 pupils but currently rolls 182, so there is some slack. Despite that, the school was oversubscribed for Reception places in 2025/26, with 34 applications for 18 places and all 18 first-preference offers taken up. The school’s facilities include a gymnasium, art studios, a sensory room, library, music rooms, playing fields and an outdoor playground. Sports on offer include netball, cross country, dance, gymnastics and football, while clubs range from drama and gardening to chess and film club. The school has identified SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. This is a school that suits families looking for a community-focused primary with strong early years provision, but where academic outcomes at Key Stage 2 are below the local average.

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