New Hartley First School
New Hartley, Whitley Bay, NE25 0RDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
New Hartley First School is a primary school in Whitley Bay for ages 3 to 9. It is one of the 171 schools in Northumberland. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 13 May 2025, report published 2 July 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- 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 13 May 2025
This is a school where pupils are happy and nurtured by staff. Pupils live out the school's character virtues which include empathy, honesty and respect. Pupils treat each other with kindness. Staff support pupils who struggle to manage strong emotions effectively. Pupils behave very well in lessons and at social times. They know that staff will help them if they have any worries. The school has worked diligently to create an ambitious curriculum. Pupils enjoy learning. As they progress through the school, they gain secure foundations, including in English and mathematics. Pupils are well prepared for the next stages in their education. The school council enables pupils to have a say in what happens in school, for example choosing new clubs such as running and construction. Through the school's core curriculum values of aspirational, sustainability and equality, pupils learn about their place in the world. The school provides many opportunities for pupils to look after the environment, including planting seeds and growing vegetables. Pupils develop a strong understanding of equality as they progress through the school. The diverse range of books support pupils to learn about important historical figures such as Rosa Parks. This helps pupils to learn to challenge inequality.
What the school should improve
- At times, the checks made on pupils' learning do not fully identify where some pupils have gaps in their knowledge. In these subjects, this prevents pupils from achieving as highly as they could. The school should ensure that any key gaps in pupils' subject knowledge are identified and addressed effectively in these curriculum areas so that pupils learn as well as they could in all subjects.
- In the early years, during independent learning times, there are times when staff do not make the most of opportunities to extend children's language. This means that some children do not practise using new words in their interactions with adults. The school should ensure that staff develop the necessary expertise to ensure that interactions consistently support the development of children's communication and language.
Pupil numbers and mix
165 pupils on roll, with places for 176
Schools near New Hartley First School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whytrig Middle School | 0.7 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 49% met the expected standard |
| Seaton Delaval First School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Holywell Village First School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | Not published |
| Seaton Sluice Middle School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 46% met the expected standard |
| Seghill First School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 9
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Keri Dowdney
- Phone
- 01912371218
- Address
- New Hartley, Whitley Bay, NE25 0RD
- Local authority
- Northumberland
- URN
- 122224
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.