SchoolScoresBarbara Priestman Academy
Special academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE ASCENT ACADEMIES' TRUST
Meadowside, Sunderland, SR2 7QN
03339 991453 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 28 January 2015.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 27 March 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 81% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 79% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 79% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 23 parents whose child had been bullied | 57% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 39 parents who had raised a concern | 69% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 75%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
27 pupils in this year group.
4% — 38 points below the Sunderland average, and 42 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 4% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 2.7 | 43.3 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 0.2 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
26 pupils in this year group.
96% — 10 points above the Sunderland average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 96% | 86% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 21% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 12% | 53% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 7% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 96% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Sunderland. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Autism; Severe learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 59.1% | 60.6%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.2%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.8%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 1.1% | 5.6%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 13.6% | 14.1%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 43.0% | 33.1%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.5 | 35.6 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.5% | 7.4% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.9 | 6.4 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 22.2% | 11.5%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Ashbrooke School 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Thornhill Park School 0.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 5 needs attention
- Sunningdale School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2013), confirmed 2023 · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- North View Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Portland Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025
- Harry Watts Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Barbara Priestman Academy's Ofsted rating?
Barbara Priestman Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 January 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 27 March 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Barbara Priestman Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 4% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 42 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Barbara Priestman Academy?
75% of the 48 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Barbara Priestman Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 138530.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.