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Grammar schools in Sunderland

There are no grammar schools in Sunderland.

Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any — Sunderland is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.

The nearest is Ripon Grammar School, about 52.0 miles away in North Yorkshire. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.

Nearest grammar schools to Sunderland

Straight-line distance from the centre of Sunderland — not a travel time.

SchoolAreaDistanceIntakeOfsted
Ripon Grammar School Ripon 52.0 miles Mixed Good
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Penrith 54.7 miles Mixed Good
Ermysted's Grammar School Skipton 68.1 miles Boys Good
Skipton Girls' High School Skipton 68.1 miles Girls Good
Lancaster Royal Grammar School Lancaster 79.4 miles Mixed Good
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Clitheroe 79.8 miles Mixed Outstanding

Published admissions priorities

These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.

Ripon Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children who met the required standard (published source)
  2. Children with exceptional medical or social need (professional evidence required) (published source)
  3. Children of Ripon Grammar School staff (published source)

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (incl. state care outside England) (published source)
  2. Current Family Association: sibling attending the school at time of admission (published source)
  3. Up to 10 places (2 per form group, PAN 160): Pupil Premium/Service Premium students (published source)

Ermysted's Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children who met the required standard (published source)
  2. Applicants within the catchment area who met the required standard (published source)
  3. Applicants outside the catchment area who met the required standard (published source)

Lancaster Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children at/near the minimum level (published source)
  2. Priority catchment area (City of Lancaster), Pupil Premium, at/near minimum level (published source)
  3. Priority catchment area, at/above minimum level (published source)

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (published source)
  2. Immediate catchment area residents eligible for Pupil Premium (published source)
  3. Immediate catchment area residents (published source)

Schools in Sunderland

Sunderland has 117 open schools. Browse all Sunderland schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.

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