Academy 360
Sunderland, SR4 9BA · Sunderland · all-through school
Check the area around this school
17th of 18 secondary schools in Sunderland we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.3/10 against 128 of them, against 0.1/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 34% | 1.79 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 14.8 · 1 | 30% | 0.04 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.31 · 1 | 25% | 0.02 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 29.1 · 1 | 10% | 0.01 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Academy 360 overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 18.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 31.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.31 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.2 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in 2022.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join Skills Builder, Voice 21, and Pennywell Fellowship clubs. They participate in Musical Experiences and the Extraordinary Us Concert. Trips include Forest and Beach Schools and Kingswood Derwent Hill. A breakfast club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 854 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,170. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the attainment gap with national medians? What specific strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores? How does the breakfast club integrate with the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Academy 360
Overview
Academy 360 is described as a "much-improved school where everyone is valued," driven by "strong strategic leadership" and staff determination. The report confirms that the quality of education, behaviour, and personal development are now good, with pupils feeling safe and supported.
Strengths
- Leaders have established "clear vision and ambition," with curriculum plans that are "suitably ambitious" and knowledge "carefully sequenced."
- The phonics programme is "richly resourced and well led," ensuring pupils are "making up lost ground" in reading.
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs is highly praised, with parents noting "enormous progress" in the specialist resource provision.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with a team of specialist staff who "respond quickly and effectively" to keep vulnerable pupils safe.
- Relationships between staff and pupils are "friendly and positive," and the school is now "calm and settled."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure greater breadth and depth in key stage 3 subjects, as pupils’ experience in arts and design technology is currently "shallower than it should be."
- Leaders must support subject leaders to ensure teachers "routinely use approaches to review and recap knowledge," as recall is weaker in some subjects.
- Leaders should do more to explain decisions regarding rewards and sanctions to staff, as a minority have reservations about the new behaviour policy.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with specialist staff keeping detailed records and working closely with external agencies to ensure pupils have "trusted adults to go to if they are concerned."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 29.0 |
| 2024/25 | 31.7 |
| 2025/26 | 29.1 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of SR4 9BA, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT