Ofsted: Good

Barbara Priestman Academy

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

personMrs Adele Pearson-Atkinson

corporate_fareTHE ASCENT ACADEMIES' TRUST

location_onSunderland, SR2 7QN

language Visit Website phone 3339991453

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

groups

Students

170

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Attainment 8

2.7

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GCSE Rank

#20 in Sunderland

#4,400 of 4,663 nationally

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Barbara Priestman Academy is a Academy special converter school in Sunderland, serving ages 11-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Barbara Priestman Academy is an academy special converter in Sunderland, admitting pupils aged 11-19. It is part of THE ASCENT ACADEMIES' TRUST. The school has approximately 190 pupils on roll, of whom 59% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2.7, placing the school #20 in Sunderland and #4,400 of 4,663 nationally. 3.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 6.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

2.7

Grade 5+ E&M

3.70%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.17

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.91

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

3.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.21

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.96

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

3.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.15

2022

Progress 8 Score

-2.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

2.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.13

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-2.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

6.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.48

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.02

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

26 March 2024

Inspection Report

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13 November 2018

Inspection Report

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28 January 2015

Inspection Report

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04 September 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-11-13

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-01-28

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2012-03-20

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

0.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.5%(1 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 190 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.5%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	190	1	0.5%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	193	0	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	173	1	0.6%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	172	0	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	170	0	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	170	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	170	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	169	1	0.6%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	177	0	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	174	2	1.1%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	174	0	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	169	0	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	168	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	170	1	0.6%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	161	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	161	0	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	161	0	0.0%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	151	0	0.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	151	0	0.0%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	148	0	0.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	135	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	134	0	0.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	134	0	0.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	136	0	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	136	0	0.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	136	0	0.0%	3.1%

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

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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 141 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

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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.

81.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

79.0%Positive

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

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree42%

agree38%

disagree2%

strongly disagree19%

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

strongly agree31%

agree40%

disagree2%

strongly disagree27%

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

strongly agree48%

agree8%

disagree4%

strongly disagree21%

not applicable19%

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

yes100%

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

strongly agree58%

agree21%

disagree4%

strongly disagree17%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree40%

agree27%

disagree2%

strongly disagree23%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree19%

disagree4%

strongly disagree19%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree42%

agree27%

disagree6%

strongly disagree25%

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

strongly agree44%

agree25%

disagree6%

strongly disagree21%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree46%

agree44%

disagree8%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree54%

agree23%

disagree2%

strongly disagree19%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes75%

no25%

Barbara Priestman Academy

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover