Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #28 in Sunderland public Top 1% UK

Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Sarah Armstrong

corporate_fareNORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST

location_onSunderland, SR3 2RE

language Visit Website phone 1915947033

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

289

school

Expected Standard

97%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.2x

summarize

Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy is a Academy converter primary school in Sunderland, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 1% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy is an academy converter in Sunderland, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of NORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 318 pupils on roll, of whom 9% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 97% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 33% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #28 of 73 primaries in Sunderland and #3,130 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.1:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

97%

LA 63%

Reading97% LA 73%

Writing97% LA 72%

Maths97% LA 74%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

90%

LA 63%England 61%

Reading94% LA 74% · Eng 74%

Writing94% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths90% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

84%

LA 60%England 60%

Reading88% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing91% LA 73% · Eng 71%

Maths88% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.9

Read

LA -0.4

-4.1 to 0.3

2.2

Write

LA 0.3

0.2 to 4.3

-1.1

Maths

LA -0.4

-3.2 to 0.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

97%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading97% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing100% LA 79% · Eng 78%

Maths100% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

116

Progress (0 = national avg)

5.3

Read

LA 0.4

3.1 to 7.6

4.5

Write

LA 1.2

2.5 to 6.5

3.2

Maths

LA 0.5

1.3 to 5.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

94%

LA 65%

Reading97% LA 75%

Writing100% LA 79%

Maths94% LA 75%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

5.6

Read

LA 1.1

3.5 to 7.7

5.7

Write

LA 1.2

3.7 to 7.7

2.1

Maths

LA 1.0

0.2 to 4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 October 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2012-01-25

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2006-11-21

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 318 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	318	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	318	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	304	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	304	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	303	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	289	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	289	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	290	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	272	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	271	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	271	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	256	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	257	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	256	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	265	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	265	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	261	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	266	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	265	1	0.4%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	255	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	265	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	266	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	260	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	259	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	256	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	249	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 12 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 11 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 7 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree61%

agree32%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree49%

agree35%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree30%

agree24%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

not applicable35%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes19%

no81%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree44%

agree32%

disagree20%

strongly disagree4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree71%

agree23%

disagree3%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree63%

agree32%

disagree4%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree54%

agree34%

disagree10%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree71%

agree26%

disagree1%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree75%

agree21%

disagree1%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree58%

agree31%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes96%

no4%

Top Primary Schools in Sunderland

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland

Good

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St Paul's CofE Primary School

Outstanding

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St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth

Good

location_on Sunderland, SR3 2BB

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St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

Good

location_on Sunderland, SR4 9AA

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Blackfell Primary School

Good

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Valley Road Academy

Good

location_on Sunderland, SR2 8PL

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Sunderland

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland

St Paul's CofE Primary School

St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth

St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

Blackfell Primary School

Valley Road Academy