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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 139184

Venerable Bede Church of England Academy

Academy converter · Sunderland · SR2 0SX

Ages 11–16 · 738 pupils · Sunderland

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

37.6

Overall absence

13.3%

Admissions demand

0.97 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-01-21

Category of concern

SWK

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Inadequate
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-1.04
−20+2
Attainment 837.6
English & maths grade 5+22%
English & maths grade 4+43%
EBacc entry36%

EBacc APS: 3.4

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence13.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)36.1%
Unauthorised7.3%
Authorised absence
6.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
8.1%
Enrolments in measure
919

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.97 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

124

Places offered

130

1st-preference offers

124

Total preferences (any rank)
202
Preferred offers (top 3)
128
Applications from outside LA
6
Offers to outside-LA applicants
2
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill82%

738 pupils · 900 places

Pupils on roll
738
Boys / girls
371 / 367
School capacity
900
Capacity fill
738 / 900 (82%)
Free school meals
34.3%
FSM pupils
253
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Durham
Governance
Academy trust: NORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
NORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
Northern Lights Learning Trust
Headteacher
Mr Jordan Bedford

Location

Address
Tunstall Bank
Postcode
SR2 0SX
Town
Sunderland
County
Tyne and Wear
Local authority
Sunderland
District
Sunderland
Constituency
Sunderland Central
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Sunderland, Sunderland, 738 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 34.3%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Durham.

Open schools in Sunderland
81
Secondary schools in Sunderland
11
Academies among open schools in Sunderland
59% (48)
Open schools in SR2
19
Secondary in SR2
5
Open schools in Sunderland LA
125
Secondary in Sunderland LA
16

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in SunderlandNear SR2

  • Southmoor Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sunderland · SR2 7TF · Sunderland

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.8
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+43%
    • Absence9.4%

    1.2 miles away

  • St Aidan's Catholic Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sunderland · SR2 7HJ · Sunderland

    Ages 11–18

    • Att851.5
    • P80.4
    • EM5+55%
    • Absence7.0%

    1.3 miles away

  • Farringdon Community Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sunderland · SR3 3EL · Sunderland

    Ages 11–16

    • Att845.9
    • P8-0.0
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence12.3%

    1.5 miles away

  • Thornhill Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Sunderland · SR2 7NA · Sunderland

    Ages 11–16

    • Att839.2
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+29%
    • Absence11.5%

    1.6 miles away

  • Sandhill View Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Sunderland · SR3 4EN · Sunderland

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.6
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+50%
    • Absence11.7%

    1.9 miles away

  • Seaham High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Seaham · SR7 0BH · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att843.0
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+36%
    • Absence10.2%

    2.6 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Jordan Bedford
Telephone
01915239745
Website
http://www.venerablebede.co.uk/

Official links