Shaftoe Trust Academy
Haydon Bridge, Hexham, NE47 6BNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Shaftoe Trust Academy is a primary school in Hexham for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 171 schools in Northumberland. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 15 June 2022, report published 21 September 2022
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 15 June 2022
Pupils at Shaftoe Trust Academy are welcoming, kind and embrace difference. They quickly make friends and feel, 'There's a space for everyone at Shaftoe!' Pupils know and 'live' the school values, from the classrooms to the walled garden. Pupils learn and play alongside each other harmoniously. Their behaviour in and around the school is exceptional. Pupils say that bullying never happens in their school. They like and trust the staff and know that they are there to help them when they need it. Pupils' sense of justice, fairness and equality is strong. They feel safe in school. They discuss and explore current issues and are able to share their views with confidence. By the time pupils are ready to leave the school, they are articulate, well rounded and compassionate. Staff and governors have high expectations and aspirations for pupils. This starts from the day that children join the school. The youngest children get off to a flying start. They talk with excitement about their learning. They are keen to talk about their growing knowledge of the world, artists and numbers. As pupils move through the school, they continue to achieve well. Pupils benefit from a wide range of after-school activities. They enjoy trying out new sports and activities, such as kickboxing, being 'world warriors' and developing their archery skills.
What the school should improve
- Leaders have not fully established systems to assess the content taught and remembered in some foundation subjects. Teachers do not consistently know precisely what pupils know and remember from their taught curriculum. This makes it difficult for teachers to produce clear next steps for pupils. Leaders should review how foundation curriculum content is assessed so that information is used to help pupils embed their knowledge more securely.
- Leaders have not fully sequenced some underlying knowledge and skills in foundation subjects. This means that teachers do not always have a sharp understanding of specific expectations for different-age pupils in the mixed-age classes. Leaders should revise curriculum planning to ensure that expectations are made clear so that pupils are challenged appropriately.
Pupil numbers and mix
102 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near Shaftoe Trust Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newbrough Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 50% met the expected standard |
| Henshaw Church of England Primary School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 78% met the expected standard |
| Allendale Primary School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 47% met the expected standard |
| St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 59% met the expected standard |
| Whitfield CofE Primary School | 5 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- WISE ACADEMIES
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Susie Drake
- Phone
- 01434684309
- Address
- Haydon Bridge, Hexham, NE47 6BN
- Local authority
- Northumberland
- URN
- 145412
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.