Barnwell Academy is a mainstream primary school in Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 42 of its 302 pupils (13.9%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 302 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Sunderland.
13.9% get SEN support
42 of 302 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1% have an EHC plan
3 of 302 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Speech, language and communication10
- Autism7
- Moderate learning difficulty7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 302 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mr Kristopher Sadler
- Part of
- Tyne and Wear Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 15.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sunderland
- School reference (URN)
- 140700
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Sunderland council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, June 2023; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (January 2022)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in June 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, January 2022).
Contact and getting there
Whitefield Estate, Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7RT
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- New Penshaw Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- The Poplars Independent · Ages 8–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Columbia Grange School Special school · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.6 miles
- Biddick Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Penshaw Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 1.4% 0.3 miles
- Shiney Row Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.3%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.4 miles
- Fatfield Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 20.6%, EHC plans 2.1% 1.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Sunderland SEND schools in Sunderland
Questions about Barnwell Academy
How many pupils at Barnwell Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 42 of the 302 pupils (13.9%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Barnwell Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (11 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (10 pupils) and autism (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Barnwell Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Barnwell Academy?
Through Sunderland council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Barnwell Academy?
You can ask for Barnwell Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Barnwell Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is New Penshaw Academy, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Barnwell Academy?
Whitefield Estate, Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7RT, in Sunderland.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), 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.