Best schools in Sunderland
Tyne and Wear averages mislead; Sunderland needs sector-locked school checks. This ranking covers 99 schools in the Sunderland local authority. Postcode area SR2 has the highest average school score (61.5 across 14 schools), while NE37 sits at the lower end (47.3). 97% of ranked Sunderland schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 schools in Sunderland on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Sunderland comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More schools in Sunderland
Positions 11–30 in the Sunderland ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Barnwell Academy | 90.1 | Outstanding | Primary |
| 12 | Dubmire Primary | 89.8 | Good | Primary |
| 13 | St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland | 89.7 | Good | Primary |
| 14 | St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland | 89.1 | Good | Primary |
| 15 | Thorney Close Primary School | 85.8 | Good | Primary |
| 16 | Biddick Primary School | 84.6 | Good | Primary |
| 17 | St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth | 83.2 | Good | Primary |
| 18 | Hill View Junior Academy | 83.2 | Good | Primary |
| 19 | Highfield Academy | 82.7 | Good | Primary |
| 20 | Valley Road Academy | 79.4 | Good | Primary |
| 21 | Willow Wood Community Primary School | 79.3 | Good | Primary |
| 22 | East Rainton Primary School | 78.1 | Good | Primary |
| 23 | St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland | 78 | Good | Primary |
| 24 | St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton | 77.9 | Good | Primary |
| 25 | Hudson Road Primary School | 76.5 | Good | Primary |
| 26 | Fatfield Academy | 76.2 | Good | Primary |
| 27 | Blackfell Primary School | 76.2 | Good | Primary |
| 28 | East Herrington Primary Academy | 74.3 | Good | Primary |
| 29 | Ryhope Junior School | 72.9 | Good | Primary |
| 30 | St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Washington | 72.7 | Good | Primary |
Keep exploring Sunderland
Questions about schools in Sunderland
What is the best school in Sunderland?
Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy is the top-ranked school in Sunderland overall (LocaleIQ score 99.9 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 97% · higher 33%. Primary and secondary schools are scored on separate metrics and peer pools — use the phase tabs above to compare like for like.
What is the best primary school in Sunderland?
Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy leads the Sunderland primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 99.9). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 97% · higher 33%. The Primary tab above shows the full ranked list of Sunderland primary schools.
What is the best secondary school in Sunderland?
St Aidan's Catholic Academy leads the Sunderland secondary school ranking (LocaleIQ 92.3). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 51.2. The Secondary tab above shows the full ranked list of Sunderland secondary schools.
Which schools in Sunderland are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
9 schools in the Sunderland ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy, Rickleton Primary School, St Paul's CofE Primary School, Bernard Gilpin Primary School, Fulwell Junior School, and 4 more. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
Which area of Sunderland has the best schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, SR2 has the strongest cluster — 61.5 average across 14 ranked schools. NE37 sits at the lower end (47.3 average). Tyne and Wear averages mislead; Sunderland needs sector-locked school checks. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
How many schools are ranked in Sunderland?
This ranking covers 99 schools (primary and secondary) in the Sunderland comparison pool. Use the Primary or Secondary tabs for phase-specific rankings. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.