St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, Jarrow

About St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, Jarrow

St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, Jarrow, sits within the South Tyneside local authority and ranks fifth out of 37 primary schools in the area, placing it comfortably in the top 25 per cent nationally. Its closest peers at the top of the local table are Biddick Hall Junior School, Cleadon Church of England Academy, and Forest View Primary, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. The school is a Roman Catholic state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged four to eleven, with headteacher Eve Alderson at the helm. It is a relatively small school, with 208 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, and 12.5 per cent of children are eligible for free school meals. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 56 applications for 29 places, with all 24 first-preference families offered a spot. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, and the school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, rated it Good overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management.

Academically, St Matthew's performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a South Tyneside average of 64 per cent. The school's ranking score of 77 on this metric places it fifth in the local authority and 113th out of 677 primary schools in the North East region. Results in individual subjects are strong: 90 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in both reading and maths, and 80 per cent in writing. At the higher standard, 33 per cent achieved in reading, 23 per cent in writing, and 17 per cent in maths. Average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 105 in maths. The school's previous Ofsted inspection, in 2012, awarded it an Outstanding overall rating, so the current Good grade represents a slight step down, though the inspection report notes that the quality of education is Good while personal development, behaviour, and leadership remain Outstanding. Parents are overwhelmingly positive: 98 per cent would recommend the school, and 85 per cent strongly agree their child is happy there.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, a dining hall, a chapel, and a Forest School area. Sports on offer include netball, cricket, athletics, tennis, football, swimming, and cross country, while clubs extend to coding, choir, eco club, and science club. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. The Parent View data shows that 83 per cent of respondents strongly agree the school makes them aware of what their child will learn, and 88 per cent strongly agree their child can take part in clubs and activities. With its strong academic outcomes, Catholic character, and oversubscribed intake, St Matthew's is a good fit for families in Jarrow and the wider South Tyneside area who prioritise a faith-based primary with a proven track record and a supportive, well-regarded community.

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