SchoolScoresValley Road Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of IRIS LEARNING TRUST
Corporation Road, Hendon, Sunderland, SR2 8PL
0191 500 2999 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 May 2013. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 October 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
46 pupils in this year group.
85% — 19 points above the Sunderland average, and 23 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 85% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 15% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 89% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 85% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 87% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 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 | 34 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 34 |
| Of those, offered a place | 34 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 47 |
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision and a SEN unit with 16 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 38.7% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 16th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.8% | 17.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.0% | 8.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 19th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 40th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.2% | 13.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 17th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 36th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 28% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.6 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 42nd highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 33% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.8 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 40th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 23% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Grangetown Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hudson Road Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hill View Junior Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hill View Infant Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), improved significantly 2024 · 95% met expected standard (KS2)
- Richard Avenue Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dame Dorothy Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barnes Infant Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Ryhope Junior School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 2 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ryhope Infant School Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2022
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Valley Road Academy's Ofsted rating?
Valley Road Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 May 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 October 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Valley Road Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 85% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 23 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Valley Road Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put Valley Road Academy as their first choice for 34 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 34 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 144221.
- 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.