Washington Academy
Washington, NE37 2AA · Sunderland · secondary school
Check the area around this school
18th 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 — 4.0/10 against 188 of them, against 1.9/10 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 | 11 | 35% | 0.39 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.5 · 31 | 30% | 0.93 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.99 · 3 | 25% | 0.07 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.0 · 24 | 10% | 0.24 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Washington Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 22.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 33.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.99 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 (1.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in April 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 627 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. 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
Since the April 2026 inspection uses separate grades, which specific areas received the highest scores? How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their Progress 8 score and the national benchmark?
What Ofsted said about Washington Academy
Overview
Washington Academy is described as a "happy school" where pupils enjoy "warm, respectful relationships" and a "deep sense of belonging." While the curriculum is "well-constructed" and teaching is typically effective, the report notes that "highly effective teaching" is not yet embedded across all subjects and attendance remains a concern.
Strengths
- Leaders have created a "caring and supportive school culture" where "compassion is at the heart of daily life" and bullying is rare.
- The school provides "high-quality pastoral care," including one-to-one tutor meetings after holidays to remove barriers to learning.
- Staff value the "professional learning offer" and feel "very well supported," contributing to a positive staff morale.
- Pupils benefit from a broad "super curricular" offer, including trips and clubs, which helps them "discover new talents and interests."
- Leaders effectively use additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils, helping them make "positive progress in reading."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure "highly effective teaching is consistent across all subjects" to help pupils embed learning over time.
- Teachers need to make "subject‑specific adaptations" to better meet the individual needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Leaders should sustain improvements in attendance, as "too many pupils currently miss lessons" and cannot fully benefit from the school’s provision.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 30.9 |
| 2024/25 | 33.1 |
| 2025/26 | 41.0 |
| 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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