Sunderland
Venerable Bede Church of England Academy
GCSE results 2026: every Sunderland school ranked · how England did
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 43.1 is close to the national average of around 46.
- 43.1
- Attainment 8
- 45%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made below-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely below zero.
- -1.04
- Progress 8
- [-1.25, -0.83]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
This school has a Church of England religious character. Admissions may prioritise pupils who meet faith criteria. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) may be required.
Watch-outs
- Faith admissions criteria apply (Church of England). A Supplementary Information Form may be required. Evidence of faith practice may be needed.
- This school has been placed in a category of concern by Ofsted (SWK). Check the latest inspection report.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Download and review the Supplementary Information Form
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 64 | 57 | 57 (100%) | 140 |
| September 2025 | 114 | 106 | 106 (100%) | 191 |
| September 2024 | 130 | 124 | 124 (100%) | 202 |
| September 2023 | 169 | 151 | 151 (100%) | 238 |
| September 2022 | 176 | 174 | 173 (99%) | 261 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Sunderland’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 168 | 43.1 | — | 44.6% | 10.7% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 178 | 44.1 | — | 38.8% | — | 44.4% | 3.9 |
| 2023/2024 | 177 | 37.6 | -1.04 | 21.5% | — | 36.2% | 3.4 |
| 2022/2023 | 175 | 41.9 | -1.00 | 35.4% | — | 38.9% | 3.7 |
| 2021/2022 | 179 | 44.8 | -0.72 | — | — | 42.0% | 4.0 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Sunderland for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 139184 |
| Local authority | Sunderland |
| Region | North East |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Headteacher Lisa Turnbull |
| Trust | NORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Church of England |
| Postcode | SR2 0SX |
| Pupils | 843 |
| FSM eligible | 32.0% |
Contact and identifiers
Tunstall Bank, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 0SX
http://www.venerablebede.co.uk/1915239745| DfE number | 4073 |
| UKPRN | 10039973 |
| Opened | 1 Jan 2013 |
| GIAS updated | 4 Feb 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 4 Feb 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 10 Mar 2025 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Inadequate |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | S5 Inspection |
| Category of concern | SWK |
| Inspection date | 21 Jan 2025 |
| Publication date | 10 Mar 2025 |