New Penshaw Academy is a mainstream primary school with resourced provision in Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, for children and young people aged 3 to 11. Its specialist base has 10 places for speech, language and communication.
- Ages 3–11
- 112 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Mainstream school with resourced provision
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Specialist base
- Resourced provision, 10 places, 3 pupils
- Pupils
- 112
- Headteacher
- Mrs Stephanie Johnson
- Part of
- Inspire Multi Academy Trust
- Council
- Sunderland
- School reference (URN)
- 139391
Needs its base supports
1 need: speech and language
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in Sunderland (4)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision are usually for children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask about the base
See the school and its specialist base, and ask how children split their time between the base and mainstream classes.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Sunderland council) that you want this school and its base, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school, so ask how they decide.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, February 2019; school remains Good (June 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2019. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, June 2024).
Contact and getting there
Langdale Road, New Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7HY
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- The Poplars Independent · Ages 8–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Columbia Grange School Special school · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.2 miles
- Biddick Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.3 miles
All SEND schools in Sunderland
By need in Sunderland: Autism (10) · Speech and language (5) · Severe learning (5) · Physical (3) · SEMH (2) · Moderate learning (2) · PMLD (2)
Questions about New Penshaw Academy
How do I get a place in New Penshaw Academy’s specialist base?
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult the school about its base. If the school is named in the plan it must admit your child; places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school.
What needs does New Penshaw Academy support?
Speech, language and communication. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does New Penshaw Academy take?
Aged 3 to 11, boys and girls.
What is New Penshaw Academy’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2024 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is New Penshaw Academy?
Langdale Road, New Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7HY, in Sunderland.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.