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Academy converter · Sunderland

Biddick Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,002Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 139839URN

Biddick Lane, Washington, NE38 8AL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Mar 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.9per place
0.5 above Sunderland median (1.4)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Sunderland

374 applications for 193 places · 3rd of 18 in Sunderland
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
48.2of 90
5th of 18 in Sunderland
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 10 March 2026Published 4 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 10 March 2026
    Report card · 4 Strong standard, 2 Expected standard
  2. 17 November 2021
    Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.9applications per place, Year 7
0.5 above Sunderland median (1.4) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

374 applications · 193 places offered · 180 named it first

  1. 2026 1.9; Sunderland median median 1.5
  2. 2025 1.8; Sunderland median median 1.5
  3. 2024 2.0; Sunderland median median 1.6
  4. 2023 2.0; Sunderland median median 1.4
  5. 2022 2.1; Sunderland median median 1.4
  6. 2021 2.1; Sunderland median median 1.5
  7. 2020 2.3; Sunderland median median 1.9
  8. 2019 2.6; Sunderland median median 1.9
  9. 2018 2.6; Sunderland median median 1.9
  10. 2017 2.3; Sunderland median median 1.8
  11. 2016 2.3; Sunderland median median 1.7
  12. 2015 2.2; Sunderland median median 1.7
  13. 2014 2.3; Sunderland median median 1.6
More applications per place than the Sunderland median in 13 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Sunderland median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261933741.91800.93
Sep 20252203881.81960.89
Sep 20242134152.02030.95
Sep 20232194372.02381.09
Sep 20222214592.12381.08
Sep 20212244642.12641.18
Sep 20202235072.32120.95
Sep 20192215712.62531.14
Sep 20182245822.62791.25
Sep 20172054712.32311.13
Sep 20162044692.32381.17
Sep 20152074542.22351.14
Sep 20142074772.32491.20

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

202 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.25th of 18 in Sunderland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths56%6th of 18 in Sunderland
Grade 4 or above in English and maths72%
  • This school
  • Sunderland median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.25
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)20248.256%72%–
2024/2521342.539%60%–
2023/2422243.946%65%−0.25
2022/2322742.536%58%−0.47

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
139839 · 394/4067
Trust
North East Learning Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,100 pupils · 1,002 on roll
Free school meals
30.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Opened
1 July 2013
Replaced
Biddick School Sports College (URN 108866)
Address
Biddick Lane, Washington, NE38 8AL
Local authority
Sunderland

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources