Sunnyside Academy
Middlesbrough, TS8 0RJ · Middlesbrough · primary school
Check the area around this school
33rd of 40 primary schools in Middlesbrough we can score, 41 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 2.5/10 against 1,703 of them, against 2.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 37.0 · 6 | 40% | 0.24 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 25% | 1.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sunnyside Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 7.0%, matching the national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2024. 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 (2.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 268 pupils against a stated capacity of 350. 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 who are below the expected standard in literacy and numeracy? What specific interventions are in place to help students reach the higher standard? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while addressing the significant gap between current results and the national median?
What Ofsted said about Sunnyside Academy
Overview
Sunnyside Academy is described as a “highly inclusive and caring school” where pupils are “respectful” and “polite.” The report highlights that the school has made “huge strides” in educational quality since its previous inspection, particularly in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- The provision for pupils with SEND is “excellent,” with staff demonstrating “great skill, passion and knowledge.”
- The approach to teaching early reading is “well embedded,” resulting in most Year 2 pupils reading with “confidence and expression.”
- Pupils exhibit excellent behaviour, being “attentive and keen to learn” in lessons and moving around school in a “calm and orderly way.”
- Systems of governance are “highly effective,” with the trust providing “high-quality support” and a culture of “mutual support.”
- Creative arts and community engagement feature strongly, including visits to theatres and local care homes.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics are secure for older pupils, as legacy gaps are “holding them back.”
- The curriculum in some foundation subjects, such as design and technology, is “less developed,” preventing pupils from connecting new learning to prior knowledge.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 35% |
| 2023/24 | 31% |
| 2024/25 | 37% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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