Southmoor Academy
Sunderland, SR2 7TF · Sunderland · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th 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 — 6.7/10 against 581 of them, against 4.9/10 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 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 50.4 · 63 | 30% | 1.90 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.28 · 29 | 25% | 0.72 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.8 · 54 | 10% | 0.54 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Southmoor Academy overview
How it's doing
Inspected in 2022-11, the school is rated Good. In 2024/25, 49.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.28 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,398 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,264. 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
What specific support is available for pupils whose Progress 8 score is below 0? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the 2022-11 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Southmoor Academy
Overview
Southmoor Academy continues to be a good school, characterised by a "welcoming culture with high ambition for the pupils." Leaders have established a curriculum that supports broad subject choices and effective progression to further study, underpinned by strong relationships between staff and students.
Strengths
- Teachers explain ideas clearly and use effective methods to check understanding, helping to identify and correct misconceptions.
- Reading is a priority across the curriculum, with "smart reading" tasks improving comprehension and vocabulary for all pupils.
- The school offers a broad range of subjects at GCSE and A level, alongside a strong careers programme that ensures most pupils have a clear destination.
- Personal development is delivered effectively, with pupils discussing difficult topics confidently and benefiting from links with external agencies.
- Staff enjoy working at the school, noting a "strong sense of teamwork" and efforts by leaders to manage workload.
Areas to improve
- The attendance of some pupils is not high enough, causing them to fall behind in learning; leaders must continue working with families to improve engagement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with thorough staff training and a strong culture where pupils feel confident speaking to trusted adults about risks.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.8 |
| 2024/25 | 49.0 |
| 2025/26 | 46.8 |
| 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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