Sandhill View Academy, Sunderland

In its own words: "Sandhill View Academy is a secondary education school located in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, England. The school is part of a multi-academy trust alongside the nearby Southmoor Academy, allowing the two schools to work together closely and pool their resources in order to improve the education of pupils in their respective areas."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pleasure, we welcome you to Sandhill View Academy. I am extremely proud of the journey we have been on since converting to Academy status and joining the Southmoor Multi Academy Trust in July 2015."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, swimming, multi-sports, drama, art, photography and homework club.

In 2026, pupils at Sandhill View Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Sunderland and 47 across England.

48% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in Sunderland and 47% in England.

That is up from 38.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.08: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 33.1, against 49.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Sports Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 133 families put Sandhill View Academy as their first choice and 203 named it as one of their preferences, for 146 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Sandhill View Academy are Christ's College (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.8); Academy 360 (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 29.1); Farringdon Community Academy (1 mile, Attainment 8 46.2); and Thornhill Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.8).

Sandhill View Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Sandhill View Academy is one of 2 schools run by Aspire North East Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sandhill View Academy (as of April 2026): 85% would recommend the school, 69% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

Of the 137 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 72% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 63% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

54% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 233 pupils (31.4%) received SEN support and 27 (3.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest tram or metro stop is South Hylton (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Somerset Road (sw-bound), 170 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sandhill View Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 256 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Sunderland (148), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Sandhill View Academy issued 204 suspensions, 26.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Sandhill View Academy are St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland (0.3 miles); Thorney Close Primary School (0.3 miles); Broadway Junior School (0.4 miles); and Hasting Hill Academy (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.