Newstead Primary Academy

About Newstead Primary Academy

Newstead Primary Academy sits in Stoke-on-Trent, ranking third out of 63 primary schools in the local authority, placing it firmly in the top five. It shares this elite tier with Co-op Academy Glebe and Goldenhill Primary Academy, both of which also achieved a ranking score of 90, and is just ahead of New Ford Academy on 87. The school is one of only 12 primaries in Stoke-on-Trent rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its nearest neighbour with that same top grade is St Gregory's Catholic Academy, 2.3 kilometres away. Headteacher Helen Stocking leads a school that is significantly oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, 80 families applied for 57 places, with 56 of those coming as first preferences. That level of demand reflects the school’s strong local reputation, and the fact that it operates above its official capacity of 420 pupils, currently enrolling 430 children.

Academically, Newstead delivers results that far outstrip the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Stoke-on-Trent average of just 60%. The school also excels at the higher standard: 34% of pupils achieved that level across all three subjects. In reading, the average scaled score was 110, with 46% reaching the higher standard; in maths, the average score was 108 and 41% hit the higher threshold. Writing saw 42% of pupils reach the higher standard, and 93% met the expected level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, awarded Outstanding across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — matching its previous Outstanding rating from 2012. This consistency suggests a deeply embedded culture of high expectations.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a library, sports hall, playing fields, art studios, a forest school and an ICT suite, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers gymnastics, athletics, cricket, football and rounders, while clubs include coding, book club, film club, eco club, science club and chess. For children with additional needs, Newstead has identified support for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. With nursery provision on site, it serves families from age three through to 11. Given its oversubscription, parents should be prepared to apply early and list it as a first preference. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes, a wide extracurricular offer, and a setting where behaviour and personal development are rated as highly as exam results.

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