NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary School
Central Parkway, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, NE64 6RTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary School is a primary school in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 171 schools in Northumberland. It ranks 60th of 68 primary schools in Northumberland. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 2 July 2024, report published 9 September 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 2 July 2024
Everyone is welcome and valued at Grace Darling CofE Primary School. Pupils are encouraged and empowered to 'let their light shine'. This school knows its pupils and families extremely well and understands the important role it plays in the community. Pastoral support for families is greatly appreciated by parents. Pupils behave well. They know to 'be ready, respectful and safe'. Classrooms are calm and orderly. Pupils look after one another. Bullying is extremely rare and pupils trust adults to sort out any problems. Pupils are happy and well cared for. Relationships are positive and warm. Leaders are ambitious for pupils and have set about creating a curriculum that will ensure that pupils have the knowledge and aspirations to lead a 'life without limits'. The music curriculum is a fine example of this. All pupils have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument to a good standard, to play in ensembles and to perform regularly. A group of pupils playing the steel pans for parents at pick up time beamed with pride and self-belief. There are numerous opportunities for pupils to experience learning outside the classroom, such as 'Beach School', which features water safety lessons and care for the environment. Every child is encouraged to take part in numerous school clubs.
What the school should improve
- The school's approach to improving attendance is not having the desired effective. Too many pupils, including those with SEND, are absent too often. They miss valuable learning and enrichment opportunities. The school should ensure that the entire school community, including parents, understands the value of regular attendance and review its approach to improving attendance.
- In the early years, children do not get sufficient opportunities to practise the correct letter formation they are taught during phonics lessons. They make many errors in their writing and these are not addressed swiftly or consistently. This means that children are not ready for the Year 1 writing curriculum. The school should ensure that children consistently form their letters correctly by the end of the early years.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
54 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
372 pupils on roll, with places for 594
Schools near NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCEA Bishop's Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 36% met the expected standard |
| NCEA Thomas Bewick C of E Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 41% met the expected standard |
| St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Ashington | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 80% met the expected standard |
| Central Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| NCEA James Knott CofE Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- NORTHUMBERLAND CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sharon Cole
- Phone
- 01670812019
- Address
- Central Parkway, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, NE64 6RT
- Local authority
- Northumberland
- URN
- 148765
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.