SchoolScoresPortland Academy
Special academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of THE ASCENT ACADEMIES' TRUST
Weymouth Road, Chapelgarth, Sunderland, SR3 2NQ
03339 991455 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 November 2019.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
44 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 95% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern | 83% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 44 parents of children with SEND | 93% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 91%said yes | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 21%). 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
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.
21 pupils in this year group.
100% — 14 points above the Sunderland average, and 8 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. | 100% | 86% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 21% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 0% | 53% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 7% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 100% |
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: Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 63.7% | 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 | 11.1% | 5.6%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 9.7% | 14.1%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 23.7% | 33.1%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 35.6 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.0% | 7.4% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 6.2% | 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
- Sunningdale School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2013), confirmed 2023 · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thornhill Park School 1.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 5 needs attention
- Barbara Priestman Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 4% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Poplars 2.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Ashbrooke School 2.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Portland Academy's Ofsted rating?
Portland Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 November 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Would parents recommend Portland Academy?
91% of the 44 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Portland 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 138526.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.