St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Low Fell

About St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Low Fell

St Peter's Catholic Primary School in Low Fell is a state primary for children aged 4 to 11, and it is a school that local families clearly want to get into. With 208 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, it is essentially full, and the oversubscription picture is striking: for 30 places in the 2025/26 intake, the school received 88 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.93. All 27 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while demand is high, being realistic about your chances is important. The school serves a relatively affluent catchment; just 5.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a national primary average that typically sits around 23-24%. As a Roman Catholic school, its religious character will be a factor for many families considering it, and the admission policy will reflect that priority.

Academically, St Peter's performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 76% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Gateshead local authority average of 64%. That places the school 11th out of 61 primary schools in the borough, comfortably inside the top 25% nationally. The average scores in reading (109) and maths (110) are both above the national benchmark of 100, and the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading (39%), writing (30%) and maths (48%) is strong. Ofsted's most recent graded inspection in 2020 rated the school Good overall, and a subsequent ungraded inspection in February 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained. Behaviour and attitudes were judged Outstanding, and the early years provision, quality of education, personal development and leadership were all rated Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, art studios, a sensory room, a forest school area, an ICT suite and a chapel. Sports provision covers netball, tennis, cricket, athletics, cross country and football, while clubs extend to gardening, art, coding, eco club, drama and science club. For children with additional needs, the school has declared support for six areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent View responses from 79 families in the 2024/25 period were largely positive: 90% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that children are happy (90% strongly agree or agree) and feel safe (91%). However, the SEND support question showed a split, with 40% strongly agreeing and 40% strongly disagreeing, so families with children who have special educational needs may want to investigate that further. This is a popular, high-attaining Catholic primary that suits families who prioritise academic outcomes and a strong sense of community.

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