Kepier
Houghton le Spring, DH4 5BH · Sunderland · secondary school
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9th of 18 secondary schools in Sunderland we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.3/10 against 572 of them, against 4.3/10 nationally. 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% | 1.77 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.1 · 53 | 31% | 1.62 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.29 · 28 | 26% | 0.71 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.3 · 52 | 10% | 0.53 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kepier overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.29 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,131 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,210. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific steps are taken to raise Attainment 8 towards the national median? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating following the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Kepier
Overview
Kepier is described as a school where "everyone is valued" and staff work harmoniously to create a "positive environment for learning." Leaders have a "clear vision and ambition," ensuring pupils develop the skills and qualifications needed to become "successful, motivated and ambitious adults." The school is viewed as a "safe space" at the heart of the community where pupils can thrive academically and socially.
Strengths
- Staff "know pupils" and "care about their well-being," with inspectors noting pupils appreciate that staff "have a sixth sense for when we need support."
- Teachers use their knowledge to develop pupils' "love of learning" and plan curricula that deliver "powerful knowledge," helping pupils use subject-specific skills with confidence.
- Assessment is used effectively to establish next steps, meaning "pupils are beginning to know and remember more over time."
- Leaders have prioritised reading, investing in schemes that ensure "weaker readers are improving their reading."
- Staff feel "supported and valued" due to effective training and development opportunities that carefully consider workload.
Areas to improve
- Increase the number of pupils taking the English Baccalaureate suite of courses, particularly by developing the languages curriculum and setting "ambitious targets" for uptake.
- Fully embed the personal development curriculum to address "gaps in understanding for older pupils" regarding protected characteristics and British Values, including providing further staff training.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture of safeguarding, highly effective record keeping, and staff who are trained to identify risks quickly.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.9 |
| 2024/25 | 43.6 |
| 2025/26 | 46.3 |
| 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
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