Burnside Primary School proudly welcomes children aged 2 to 11 from the Cramlington area and beyond. We are a friendly, vibrant, and inclusive school where every child is kept safe, feels deeply valued, and is supported to achieve their absolute best.

At Burnside, we view education as a collaborative journey between home and school. Our exceptional staff, modern facilities, and beautiful grounds ensure your child’s primary years are filled with academic ambition, security, and joy.

 Miss Ramsay, Headteacher

Our Motto: "Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Kind"

This simple yet powerful motto is the heartbeat of Burnside Primary School. It is not just a slogan on our walls; it underpins our entire curriculum framework, our assemblies, and our daily community interactions, shaping positive behaviour choices and learning environments from our two-year-olds right up to Year 6.

Be Safe

We create a secure, nurturing environment where children look out for one another and learn to manage risks sensibly. Safeguarding is our highest statutory priority, ensuring every child feels secure enough to express themselves, build resilience, and grow with confidence.

Be Smart

Being smart means inspiring a lifelong love of learning and genuine curiosity. We encourage our pupils to be reflective, think critically, ask big questions, and always strive for their personal and academic best across a broad and balanced curriculum.

Be Kind

Kindness defines our school community. We celebrate diversity, champion inclusion, and encourage relationships built on absolute mutual respect. Our curriculum and assembly themes actively promote fundamental British values and support children's Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) development. We empower our children to develop their own strong ethical compass, actively challenging bullying, discrimination, and harassment to ensure everyone feels welcome in the Burnside family.

 

 School Structure

Burnside is an organised, two-form entry school from Reception through to Year 6. Our structure is carefully aligned with the national curriculum stages to provide age-appropriate, specialised care and education at every step of your child's development:

 

Phase	Year Groups	Organisation & Class Setup
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)	• Budding Explorers (2-year-olds) • Rising 3s (Younger 3s) • Nursery (Main 3-year-olds)  • Reception Class	Led by our Early Years Manager, Mrs McCaw. Focused on foundational development and playful learning with specialist staff-to-child ratios.
Key Stage 1 (KS1)	• Year 1 • Year 2	Led by our KS1 Phase Leader, Miss Turnbull Two classes per year group. A maximum of 30 pupils per class.
Lower Key Stage 2 (LKS2)	• Year 3 • Year 4	Led by our Lower Key Stage 2 Phase Leader, Mrs Burnip. Two classes per year group. Fostering academic independence and deeper subject exploration.
Upper Key Stage 2 (UKS2)	• Year 5 • Year 6	Lead by our Upper Key stage leader, Miss Croft. Two classes per year group. Enriching leadership skills and preparing children for a successful transition to secondary school.

What We Offer at Burnside

We are incredibly proud of our spacious site, modern facilities, and extensive outdoor areas. Our grounds allow children to enjoy sport, exploration, and outdoor learning throughout the year, treating the outdoors as a natural extension of our classrooms.

• Curriculum Excellence: A rich, balanced, and engaging curriculum with high-quality, adaptive teaching across all subjects to support strong academic progress.

• Specialist Instruction: Dedicated teaching from subject experts in key areas including Physical Education (PE), competitive sport, music, and French.

• Extended Childcare: Highly reliable, school-run provisions, including our Breakfast Club (from 7:30 am), After-School Care (until 6:00 pm), and Holiday Clubs.

• Healthy Nutrition: Freshly prepared hot meals cooked on-site each day, easily catering to all dietary requirements including vegetarian and halal options.

• Active & Safe Travel: Safe routes to school with secure cycle and scooter parking. All children wear our smart school uniform and are actively encouraged to walk, cycle, or scoot to school wherever possible.

Joining Our Community

We welcome families from a wide range of backgrounds and deeply value the diversity this brings to our school. Children may join Burnside at various stages of their educational journey, and we warmly welcome mid-year transfers from other schools or areas.

The absolute best way to experience our happy, purposeful atmosphere is to see it for yourself. We run regular scheduled tours for prospective parents led by members of our Senior Leadership Team. Please contact the main school office to arrange your visit.