Whitburn Church of England Academy
Sunderland, SR6 7EF · South Tyneside · secondary school
Check the area around this school
1st of 8 secondary schools in South Tyneside we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 430 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.8/10 among them, against 5.5/10 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 | 49.0 · 60 | 30% | 1.80 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.11 · 42 | 25% | 1.04 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.0 · 70 | 10% | 0.70 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Whitburn Church of England Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 51.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.11 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.8 out of 10 among them, against 5.8 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in February 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in House Sports Day and receive instrumental tuition.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,204 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,265. 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 support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll?
What Ofsted said about Whitburn Church of England Academy
Overview
Whitburn Church of England Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school continues to provide a high-quality education where pupils enjoy attending, behave well, and achieve strongly across the curriculum, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate a "positive ethos and culture," showing tolerance, respect, and confidence in their interactions.
- Teaching is "clear and effective," with teachers challenging pupils to develop their thinking and skills across a broad and ambitious curriculum.
- Provision for pupils with SEND has improved significantly, with needs identified promptly and work adapted effectively across the curriculum.
- Personal development is a strength, featuring a well-planned programme for personal, health and social education that prepares pupils well for future steps.
- Staff workload is well managed, and leaders are reflective, maintaining high standards since the last graded inspection.
Areas to improve
- In a minority of subjects, assessment is not used effectively enough to routinely check understanding or inform future teaching.
- The school should ensure assessment is used to clearly identify misconceptions and guide subsequent instruction.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.8 |
| 2024/25 | 51.6 |
| 2025/26 | 50.0 |
| 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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