SchoolScoresPlains Farm Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of INSPIRE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Tudor Grove, Sunderland, SR3 1SU
0191 520 3109 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 March 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 | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
23 pupils in this year group.
65% — about the same as the Sunderland average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 9% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 74% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 70% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 65% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 19 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 19 |
| Of those, offered a place | 19 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 23 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years Joint 9th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 48.5% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 23rd highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.1% | 17.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 30th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 28% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 8.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 41st lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 17% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 44th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 21.6% | 13.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 34th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 40% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 28th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 53% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 25th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.1 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 23rd highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 70% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.9 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 44th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.2%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Richard Avenue Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barnes Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barnes Infant Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), improved significantly 2024 · 95% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thorney Close Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Broadway Junior School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Farringdon Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- New Silksworth Academy Infant 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed, may be improving 2024
- New Silksworth Academy Junior 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Plains Farm Academy's Ofsted rating?
Plains Farm Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 March 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Plains Farm Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Plains Farm Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 19 families put Plains Farm Academy as their first choice for 19 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 19 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 139389.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.