Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #12 in Sunderland public Top 5% UK

Bernard Gilpin Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Andrew Bainbridge

location_onHoughton le Spring, DH5 8DA

language Visit Website phone 1919172999

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

414

school

Expected Standard

87%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Bernard Gilpin Primary School is a Community school primary school in Houghton le Spring, serving ages 5-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 5% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Bernard Gilpin Primary School is a community school in Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, admitting pupils aged 5-11. The school has approximately 422 pupils on roll, of whom 23% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 28% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #12 of 73 primaries in Sunderland and #1,503 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

87%

LA 63%

Reading92% LA 73%

Writing90% LA 72%

Maths93% LA 74%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 63%England 61%

Reading92% LA 74% · Eng 74%

Writing90% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths96% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

86%

LA 60%England 60%

Reading97% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing89% LA 73% · Eng 71%

Maths97% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.4

Read

LA -0.4

1.9 to 4.9

0.9

Write

LA 0.3

-0.6 to 2.3

3.8

Maths

LA -0.4

2.3 to 5.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

81%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading87% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing91% LA 79% · Eng 78%

Maths98% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

113

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.9

Read

LA 0.4

0.1 to 3.7

2.7

Write

LA 1.2

1.1 to 4.4

6.4

Maths

LA 0.5

4.9 to 8.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

86%

LA 65%

Reading89% LA 75%

Writing88% LA 79%

Maths95% LA 75%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.2

Read

LA 1.1

1.6 to 4.8

2.7

Write

LA 1.2

1.2 to 4.2

6.7

Maths

LA 1.0

5.3 to 8.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 September 2022

Inspection Report

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14 May 2019

Inspection Report

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10 November 2015

Inspection Report

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11 July 2012

Inspection Report

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14 March 2012

Inspection Report

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20 June 2011

Inspection Report

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26 June 2008

Inspection Report

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06 June 2005

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2022-09-21

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2019-05-14

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-11-10

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-07-11

Notice to Improve S5 ReInspection Historic Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-06-20

None EIF

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 422 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	422	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	426	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	418	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	424	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	423	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	424	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	414	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	417	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	410	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	410	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	411	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	407	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	402	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	406	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	419	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	419	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	420	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	397	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	398	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	400	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	396	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	396	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	400	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	393	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	395	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	398	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 24 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 24 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree58%

agree35%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree57%

agree34%

disagree10%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree29%

agree15%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

not applicable44%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes17%

no83%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree53%

agree26%

disagree16%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree64%

agree31%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree68%

agree27%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree39%

disagree9%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree66%

agree28%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree81%

agree18%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree59%

agree31%

disagree3%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes95%

no5%

Top Primary Schools in Sunderland

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland

Good

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St Paul's CofE Primary School

Outstanding

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St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth

Good

location_on Sunderland, SR3 2BB

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

Good

location_on Sunderland, SR4 9AA

emoji_events #4 in LA

Blackfell Primary School

Good

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Valley Road Academy

Good

location_on Sunderland, SR2 8PL

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Sunderland arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Sunderland

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland

St Paul's CofE Primary School

St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth

St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

Blackfell Primary School

Valley Road Academy