Whale Hill Primary School
Sandsend Road, Eston, Whale Hill Primary School, Middlesbrough, TS6 8ADOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Whale Hill Primary School is a primary school in Middlesbrough for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 65 schools in Redcar and Cleveland. It ranks 2nd of 57 primary schools in Middlesbrough. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in January 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 20 January 2026, report published 24 March 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Strong standard
- Achievement
- Strong standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Strong standard
- Leadership and governance
- Strong standard
- Early years
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 January 2026
Whale Hill Primary School is a school built on love. It is a place where everyone is welcome and feels safe. Leaders ensure that staff, pupils and their families are exceptionally well cared for. All those involved in the school are aspirational for the pupils and the community. Leaders, teachers, parents, carers and pupils all value and celebrate each other. Pupils are known by all staff, who focus on helping them thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Despite low starting points, pupils achieve significantly above the national averages by the end of Year 6. Leaders are determined that pupils learn to read, write and use number fluently. The quality of pupils' work in books has improved as a result of higher expectations from staff. Leaders do their utmost to reduce barriers for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Where needed, this includes additional support to ensure that they attend school regularly. Pupils' experiences are broadened through a wide variety of trips and after-school clubs. Pupils embrace the opportunities to take part in a range of sports, such as basketball, golf, dance and yoga. Pupils also learn to play a variety of instruments, including the guitar, brass instruments and the clarinet. Children in early years get off to a positive start. Staff quickly identify their different needs. They make sure that children have the support they need to settle quickly. As a result, most children are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to progress smoothly into Year 1. Pupils’ behaviour is consistently positive. Bullying is rare, and pupils are confident that staff would address this should it occur. They are respectful of each other and of the adults who support them. Pupils consistently model the values of courtesy, respect, tolerance and kindness. They value the opportunities to support charities, for example helping in the eco-club.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should ensure that the quality of staff's interactions with children is consistently high across the early years, so that children's vocabulary is extended and their learning is maximised and embedded.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
54 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
461 pupils on roll, with places for 530
Schools near Whale Hill Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caedmon Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 64% met the expected standard |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 44% met the expected standard |
| Bankfields Primary School | 0.7 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 85% met the expected standard |
| Grangetown Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 58% met the expected standard |
| Teesville Academy | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 76% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- STEEL RIVER ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Headteacher Sandra Marsden
- Phone
- 01642454339
- Address
- Sandsend Road, Eston, Whale Hill Primary School, Middlesbrough, TS6 8AD
- Local authority
- Redcar and Cleveland
- URN
- 147393
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.