Best Primary Schools in Sunderland 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 81 schools across Sunderland. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Sunderland has 81 open primary schools. Of the 81 with a published Ofsted inspection, 10 (12%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 98% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, St Paul's CofE Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Sunderland follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

81
Total schools
10
Outstanding (historic grade)
12%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
66.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
38.2
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 St Paul's CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 92 View school
🥈 Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 91 View school
🥉 St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland
Primary
 Good 88 View school
4. Fulwell Junior School
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
5. Bexhill Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
6. St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
7. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland
Primary
 Good 85 View school
8. St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton
Primary
 Good 84 View school
9. Valley Road Academy
Primary
 Good 83 View school
10. St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth
Primary
 Good 83 View school
11. Biddick Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
12. St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
13. Highfield Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school
14. East Herrington Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school
15. Hill View Junior Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school
16. Grindon Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
17. Seaburn Dene Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
18. Blackfell Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
19. Ryhope Infant School Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
20. Barnes Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Sunderland

Best primary schools in SunderlandTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in SunderlandTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in SunderlandPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in SunderlandYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in South TynesideCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in GatesheadCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in North TynesideCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Newcastle upon TyneCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Sunderland?
There are 81 open primary schools in Sunderland (closed schools are excluded). 10 of the 81 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Sunderland?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Sunderland is St Paul's CofE Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Sunderland?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Sunderland?
Primary and secondary applications in Sunderland are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Sunderland council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

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.