Barnwell Academy Catchment Area
Barnwell Academy is an academy converter primary school in Houghton le Spring, Sunderland , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 317 pupils, and a capacity of 210 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-11
Age range
317
Pupils
210
Capacity
151%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2023
Barnwell Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Barnwell Academy?
The catchment area for Barnwell Academy is the geographic zone Sunderland uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Sunderland publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Barnwell Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Sunderland. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Sunderland publishes the 2027 Barnwell Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Sunderland before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Sunderland catchment area documents →Barnwell Academy: heavily oversubscribed at 151% capacity
Barnwell Academy has a published admission number of 210 places. 317 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 151%. At 151% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Sunderland allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 20.4% of pupils at Barnwell Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Sunderland.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Sunderland publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Sunderland school admissions →
Barnwell Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Whitefield Estate, Penshaw, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7RT
- Local authority
- Sunderland
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 3-11 years
- Free school meals
- 20.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 140700
Other Primary Schools in Houghton le Spring
If Barnwell Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Houghton le Spring are the next closest alternatives.
East Rainton Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · DH5 9RA
Easington Lane Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · DH5 0JT
Hetton Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · DH5 9ND
Shiney Row Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · DH4 4QP
Bernard Gilpin Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · DH5 8DA
Bournmoor Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · DH4 6HF
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Barnwell Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Barnwell Academy
What is the catchment area for Barnwell Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Barnwell Academy is the geographic zone Sunderland uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Sunderland publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Barnwell Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Barnwell Academy currently has 317 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 210 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Barnwell Academy? ▾
Admission to Barnwell Academy is managed by Sunderland. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Barnwell Academy cover? ▾
Barnwell Academy is a primary school in Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Barnwell Academy? ▾
Barnwell Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.