Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #2 in Sunderland public Top 11% UK

St Aidan's Catholic Academy

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

personMr Glenn Sanderson

corporate_fareBISHOP CHADWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST

location_onSunderland, SR2 7HJ

language Visit Website phone 1915200333

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

877

trending_up

Attainment 8

51.2

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#2 in Sunderland

#797 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St Aidan's Catholic Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Sunderland, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

St Aidan's Catholic Academy is an academy converter in Sunderland, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BISHOP CHADWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 992 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 51.2, placing the school #2 in Sunderland and #797 of 3,216 nationally. 62.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 20.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 18 A-level subjects. 50.0% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 21.1% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.49 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

51.2

Grade 5+ E&M

62.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)20.8%

Entering EBacc72.40%

EBacc APS4.68

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.37

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc76.50%

EBacc APS4.79

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc69%

EBacc APS4.87

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.45

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc86%

EBacc APS5.3

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc48%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS4.53

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc52%

EBacc APS4.55

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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

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.49

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.6%

Achieving A*–A21.1%

Achieving A*–B50.0%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate30.0%

A-level subjects offered18

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.43

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate91.10%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate94.90%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate96.3%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

18 February 2025

Inspection Report

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07 June 2023

Inspection Report

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09 January 2018

Inspection Report

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13 May 2016

Inspection Report

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14 December 2015

Inspection Report

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04 April 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-02-18

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

2018-01-09

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2016-05-13

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-12-14

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-10-02

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

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

3.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.7%(27 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 992 pupils. During this period, there were 30 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.0%, 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	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	992	30	3.0%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,002	39	3.9%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	946	42	4.4%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	943	43	4.6%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	935	51	5.5%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	873	61	7.0%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	877	38	4.3%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	859	56	6.5%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	854	35	4.1%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	852	67	7.9%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	861	48	5.6%	4.4%	4
2020/21 (Summer term)	845	33	3.9%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	845	2	0.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	847	35	4.1%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	845	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	845	47	5.6%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	846	48	5.7%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	838	36	4.3%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	833	52	6.2%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	844	72	8.5%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	845	33	3.9%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	841	43	5.1%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	848	51	6.0%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	877	27	3.1%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	885	29	3.3%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	897	11	1.2%	3.1%	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 53 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 10 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 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.

86.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

91.0%Positive

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

22.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree68%

agree24%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree41%

agree39%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree27%

agree19%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

don't know1%

not applicable36%

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

yes10%

no90%

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

strongly agree27%

agree33%

disagree27%

strongly disagree13%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree71%

agree23%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree36%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree43%

disagree7%

strongly disagree5%

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

strongly agree53%

agree36%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree68%

agree31%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree44%

agree38%

disagree7%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes85%

no15%

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Southmoor Academy

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary 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 Secondary Schools in Sunderland

Hetton Academy

St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy

Southmoor Academy

St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington

Monkwearmouth Academy

Red House Academy