St Oswald's Catholic Primary, Wrekenton

About St Oswald's Catholic Primary, Wrekenton

Parent feedback at St Oswald's Catholic Primary, Wrekenton, is a mixed bag, with 57% of respondents saying they would recommend the school to other parents, according to the most recent Parent View survey. That figure comes from 14 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025. The school is clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 reception intake, it received 29 applications for just 16 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.81. All 16 first-preference applicants were offered a place. On the positive side, 86% of parents felt their child is happy at the school (strongly agree or agree), and a similar proportion said their child feels safe. However, concerns are not always dealt with to parents' satisfaction: 43% disagreed that concerns are handled properly, and 29% disagreed that bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, rated it Good across all areas including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision.

Academically, St Oswald's performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Gateshead local authority average of 64%. That puts the school 14th out of 61 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top 25% nationally. Average scores in reading (104) and maths (103) are both above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 4% of pupils achieved the top level across all three subjects, with 21% reaching that level in maths and writing, and 17% in reading. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it's not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. The school has held a Good rating from Ofsted across both its recent inspections, with the previous graded inspection in 2013 also awarding Good for overall effectiveness and leadership.

The school has a strong Catholic character and offers a nursery provision for children from age three. Facilities include a gymnasium, library, playing fields, ICT suite, art studios, music rooms and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, football, swimming and dance, while clubs range from science and book club to choir and drama. The school has identified specific SEND provisions for pupils with dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health difficulties, and hearing impairment. With 45.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. It is not oversubscribed to the point of turning away first-preference families, but competition is real. This is a school that suits families who value a faith-based primary with solid academic outcomes, a wide range of activities, and a clear commitment to inclusion, though the mixed parent feedback on pastoral issues is worth investigating further on a visit.

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