Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Sunderland 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 125 schools across Sunderland. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Sunderland has 125 primary & secondary schools, of which 18 (14%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 98 rated Good — 93% of primary & secondary schools in Sunderland are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Houghton Le Spring Nursery School currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in Sunderland follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

125
Total schools
18
Outstanding
14%
Outstanding rate
66.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
38.2
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Houghton Le Spring Nursery School
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Hylton Red House Nursery School
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥉 Oxclose Nursery School
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
4. Mill Hill Nursery School
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
5. Sunningdale School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
6. Harry Watts Academy
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
7. Columbia Grange School
Not applicable
 Outstanding 95 View school
8. St Paul's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 92 View school
9. Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
10. St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland
Primary
 Good 88 View school
11. Fulwell Junior School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
12. Bexhill Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
13. St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
14. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland
Primary
 Good 85 View school
15. St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton
Primary
 Good 84 View school
16. Valley Road Academy
Primary
 Good 83 View school
17. St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth
Primary
 Good 83 View school
18. Biddick Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
19. St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
20. Highfield Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school

Related lists for Sunderland

Primary schools in SunderlandReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in SunderlandYear 7 onwards Outstanding schools in Sunderland18 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in Sunderland

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Sunderland?
There are 125 primary & secondary schools in Sunderland, of which 18 (14%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in Sunderland?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in Sunderland is Houghton Le Spring Nursery School. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in Sunderland?
Primary and secondary school applications in Sunderland are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the Sunderland council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in Sunderland?
14% of primary & secondary schools in Sunderland are rated Outstanding and 78% are rated Good. 84% are rated Good or Outstanding.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.