Education and Services for People with Autism, Sunderland
Education and Services for People with Autism is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in Sunderland. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Education and Services for People with Autism in detail
Education and Services for People with Autism in its own words
In its own words: "Education and Services for People with Autism Limited is a Registered Charity and has been supporting people on the autism spectrum since 1988. Enabling people across the autism spectrum to enjoy rewarding and fulfilling lives. We respect and embrace each person’s uniqueness and aim to enable everyone to learn to live a more independent and autonomous future of their choice."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Education and Services for People with Autism are North View Academy (0.7 miles, Good); Trinity Academy New Bridge (0.9 miles, Requires improvement); Harry Watts Academy (1.3 miles, Outstanding); and Sunningdale School (2.1 miles, Outstanding).
North View AcademyTrinity Academy New BridgeHarry Watts AcademySunningdale School
Who goes there
Education and Services for People with Autism provides for pupils with autism. Education and Services for People with Autism is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is South Hylton (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ferryboat Lane-Business Park (se-bound), 140 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from November 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2016 inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Autism
SEN Provision
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Education and Services for People with Autism
🎓 Celebrating ESPA Graduation 2026!
10 Jul 2026
Residential Learning Support Assistant Grade 1
25 Nov 2015
From Education and Services for People with Autism's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Education and Services for People with Autism
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Education and Services for People with Autism from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Education and Services for People with Autism is in Sunderland; for families living there:
Apply to Sunderland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Sunderland is 13 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Sunderland
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sunderland
Across Sunderland council
Places available
3,305
Applications
2,921
Got 1st preference
92.9%
Got preferred school
97.9%
All secondary applications across Sunderland council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(11)
Special educational needs provision
Education and Services for People with Autism provides for pupils with autism.
Education and Services for People with Autism is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about Education and Services for People with Autism
What is Education and Services for People with Autism's Ofsted rating?
Education and Services for People with Autism's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Education and Services for People with Autism?
No fixed boundary. When Education and Services for People with Autism is oversubscribed, Sunderland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Education and Services for People with Autism have specialist SEN provision?
Education and Services for People with Autism provides for pupils with autism. Education and Services for People with Autism is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Education and Services for People with Autism?
Apply through Sunderland's coordinated admissions process, naming Education and Services for People with Autism on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Education and Services for People with Autism?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Sunderland is 13 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Education and Services for People with Autism?
Education and Services for People with Autism is at Ferryboat Lane, Sunderland, SR5 3RL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)