Portland Academy, Sunderland
Portland Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Sunderland, part of The Ascent Academies' Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Portland Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Portland Academy are Sunningdale School (1.8 miles, Outstanding); Thornhill Park School (1.9 miles, Good); Barbara Priestman Academy (2.4 miles, Good); and The Poplars (2.6 miles, Good).
Sunningdale SchoolThornhill Park SchoolBarbara Priestman AcademyThe Poplars
The trust
Portland Academy is one of 6 schools run by The Ascent Academies' Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
44 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Portland Academy (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 24 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
62.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 9.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Asian (7%).
Almost every pupil at Portland Academy has an education, health and care plan (206 of 207 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Portland Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is University (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 3 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Weymouth Road (e-bound), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 89 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sunderland (148).
Suspensions and exclusions
Portland Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Portland Academy excels at creating a safe, nurturing environment where every pupil receives a carefully tailored education matched to their individual needs. Staff are highly skilled at teaching communication and life skills, helping pupils become increasingly confident and independent. The school prepares students well for adulthood through realistic work experiences and community involvement, including running a school cafe and clothing shop.
Key Strengths
- Highly personalised education tailored to each pupil's EHC plan with bespoke learning pathways
- Exceptional focus on communication skills using consistent strategies throughout the school
- Excellent preparation for adulthood with diverse work experience and community engagement
- Strong reading curriculum adapted to meet individual pupil needs
- High staff expertise and morale contributing to pupil outcomes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school creates an open, positive culture that prioritises pupils' safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Dance, cookery, swimming, forest school, outdoor learning programme, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, work experience, school cafe, Port Mall clothing shop, Port Fest summer community event
Portland Academy is a happy, nurturing special school where pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties flourish. Evidence suggests the school's work has improved significantly since the previous inspection.
At a Glance
62.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
44 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Portland Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Portland Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Portland Academy 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
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
3 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
School Occupancy
115%
Over capacity
207 pupils
180 places
27 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
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(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school has improved significantly.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
206
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Portland Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
207
Total Pupils
142
Boys
65
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
34
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,851
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.7%
Overall absence
23.7%
Persistent absence
135
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Portland Academy
What is Portland Academy's Ofsted rating?
Portland Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Portland Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Portland Academy is oversubscribed, Sunderland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Portland Academy?
Portland Academy has around 207 pupils on roll. 63% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Portland Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Portland Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Portland Academy?
9.7% of sessions were missed at Portland Academy in 2024/25. 23.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Portland Academy?
Apply through Sunderland's coordinated admissions process, naming Portland Academy 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 Portland Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 3 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 Portland Academy?
Portland Academy is at Weymouth Road, Chapelgarth, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR3 2NQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)