GCSE 2025/26
#598 of 3,312
Better than 81% of schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
A-level 2024/25
#1,379 of 2,536
Similar to most schools in England
Ranked by average points per A-level entry.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 18 Feb 2025
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 139538.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 53.6, better than England, better than Sunderland | 43.6 | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 79.3%, better than England, better than Sunderland | 63.6% | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 58.6%, better than England, better than Sunderland | 44.7% | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 19.5%, better than England, better than Sunderland | 10.5% | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 74.1%, better than England, better than Sunderland | 58% | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 174 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10. | 33.02, similar to England, better than Sunderland | 28.27 | 35 |
| Average A-level grade | C+ | - | - |
| Average points, best three A-levels | 37.03, similar to England, better than Sunderland | 29.93 | 35.78 |
| Average grade, best three A-levels | B- | - | - |
| AAB or better | 16.2%, similar to England, better than Sunderland | 10.2% | 17.5% |
| A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average. | -0.49, worse than England | - | - |
| A-level progress | Below average, worse than England | - | - |
| Students at the end of 16 to 18 study | 74 | - | - |
| Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs. | Dist- | - | - |
Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 1,057 |
| Girls | 0 |
| Boys | 1,057 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 20.2% |
| First language not English | 23.7% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 1,338 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 21% |
| Sixth form places2024/25 | 288 |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 108 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 12 |
| Average class size | 22.1 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 18.6 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 16 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 56.8 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 5.9 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 24.64 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 51.8 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 46.8 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 3 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 2 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 179 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 289 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 176 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 173 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 24 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 6.2%, better than England, better than Sunderland | 9.6% | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 17.9%, better than England, better than Sunderland | 26.4% | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 1.7%, better than England, better than Sunderland | 4.9% | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 10.4% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 5.9% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.4% |
| Permanent exclusions | 4 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 92.8% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 85% |
| School sixth form | 45.8% |
| Further education | 39.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.2% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 3.3% |
| Employment | 0.7% |
| Sixth form college | 0% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 89.7% |
| Higher education | 66.2% |
| Employment | 16.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.4% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 5.9% |
| Further education | 0% |
Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mi | Secondary | Thornhill Academy | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 1 May 2024. | |
| 0.4 mi | Primary | St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 24 Sept 2013. | |
| 0.4 mi | Not applicable | Argyle House School | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 0.5 mi | Secondary | Southmoor Academy | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 15 Nov 2017. | |
| 0.5 mi | Secondary | St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 24 Jan 2023. | |
| 0.5 mi | Primary | Hill View Junior Academy | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 5 Dec 2012. | |
| 0.5 mi | Primary | Richard Avenue Primary School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 15 Oct 2014. | |
| 0.6 mi | Not applicable | Hopespring Sunderland | Other independent school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 22 Oct 2024. | |
| 0.6 mi | Primary | Hill View Infant Academy | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 28 Jun 2022. | |
| 0.8 mi | Primary | Valley Road Academy | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 14 May 2013. |
St Aidan's Catholic Academy is rated Outstanding, last inspected on 18 Feb 2025. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.
St Aidan's Catholic Academy ranks 598 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 81% of schools) and 1,379 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).
In 2025/26, 58.6% of pupils at St Aidan's Catholic Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 53.6 (England 46.2).
In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at St Aidan's Catholic Academy was C+, and 16.2% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, St Aidan's Catholic Academy made 179 offers from 289 applications (1.6 per offer), and 173 of 176 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
St Aidan's Catholic Academy has 1,057 pupils aged 11 to 18.
St Aidan's Catholic Academy had 1,338 school places in 2024/25.
Yes, St Aidan's Catholic Academy has a sixth form with 288 places in 2024/25.
At St Aidan's Catholic Academy, the average class had 22.1 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 18.6 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at St Aidan's Catholic Academy missed 6.2% of sessions (England 8%), and 17.9% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.