Best secondary schools in Sunderland
Tyne and Wear averages mislead; Sunderland needs sector-locked school checks. This ranking covers 18 secondary schools in the Sunderland local authority. Postcode area SR2 has the highest average school score (55.0 across 5 schools), while SR3 sits at the lower end (21.3). 83% of ranked Sunderland secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Sunderland on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Sunderland comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Sunderland
Positions 11–18 in the Sunderland ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Kepier | 29.7 | Good | Secondary |
| 12 | Castle View Enterprise Academy | 27 | Good | Secondary |
| 13 | Oxclose Community Academy | 18.1 | Good | Secondary |
| 14 | Biddick Academy | 17.5 | Good | Secondary |
| 15 | Academy 360 | 13.3 | Good | All-through |
| 16 | Washington Academy | 8.6 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 17 | Farringdon Community Academy | 7.4 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 18 | Venerable Bede Church of England Academy | 1.9 | Inadequate | Secondary |
Keep exploring Sunderland
Questions about secondary schools in Sunderland
What is the best secondary school in Sunderland?
St Aidan's Catholic Academy is the top-ranked secondary school in Sunderland (LocaleIQ score 92.3 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 51.2. The score combines Ofsted outcome, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and cohort-weighted percentile ranks within the Sunderland secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Sunderland?
Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy tops the Sunderland primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 99.9). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 97% · higher 33%. See the full primary school ranking for Sunderland for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Sunderland have the best GCSE results?
Attainment 8 measures average GCSE grades across eight subjects; Progress 8 compares actual grades against predictions based on KS2 — a positive figure means pupils outperformed expectations. Top performers in Sunderland: St Aidan's Catholic Academy (Attainment 8 51.2); Southmoor Academy (Attainment 8 49.0); St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy (Attainment 8 50.7). Both metrics feed into the LocaleIQ secondary school score.
Which secondary schools in Sunderland are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
1 secondary school in the Sunderland ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: St Aidan's Catholic Academy. 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.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Sunderland?
This ranking covers 18 secondary schools in the Sunderland comparison pool. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Sunderland has the best secondary schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, SR2 has the strongest cluster — 55.0 average across 5 ranked secondary schools. SR3 sits at the lower end (21.3 average). Tyne and Wear averages mislead; Sunderland needs sector-locked school checks. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.