The Link School, Sunderland
The Link School is a pru school for pupils aged 7 to 14 in Sunderland. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
The Link School in detail
Where pupils go next
Of the 42 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2020/21, 50% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college and 5% into work.
Who goes there
72% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 128 pupils (78%) received SEN support and 6 (3.7%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is South Hylton (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sunningdale Road (e-bound), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Link School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 258 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.
Sources: 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils like the calm, peaceful atmosphere and small class sizes. They feel valued and notice how much staff care for them. Pupils are included in many decisions about their education. They grow in confidence and recognise the positive impact the school has on their lives.
Staff make clear what they expect of pupils' behaviour. Most pupils know and respond well to these expectations and boundaries. Skilled adults support pupils to manage their emotions and conduct. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), learn to make positive behaviour choices.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Strong leadership and governance is bringing about many improvements to this inclusive school. Leaders have overhauled much of the curriculum. It is increasingly broad and ambitious and equips pupils with a secure grasp of English and mathematics. Support for pupils' social, behavioural and emotional development features in many aspects of the curriculum. This provides pupils with a strong foundation to achieve well in their time at the school and many do.
Most pupils have significant gaps from their previous learning. Many need plenty of skilled support to re-engage with school. Leaders establish a precise knowledge of each pupil's academic, behavioural and emotional needs. Leaders also identify accurately the needs of pupils with SEND. Staff use their training and subject knowledge to mould the curriculum to each pupil's needs.
From Ofsted's November 2023 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2018 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
72.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Keep up with The Link School
Before and after school care
The Link School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Sunderland
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to The Link School, with their latest published grades:
- Little Angels Nursery - Day nursery, 0.2 milesOfsted, 4 December 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Kids Planet Ettrick Grove - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted report card, 18 August 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Playdays 4 Kidz C.I.C - Day nursery, 0.5 milesOfsted, 16 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Helping Hands Childcare - Day nursery, 0.8 milesOfsted report card, 21 July 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Pennywell Early Years Centre - Day nursery, 1.0 milesOfsted, 30 June 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Link School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Link School 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
- 35
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 27 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot.
13 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 are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
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(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
128
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
81.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
164
Total Pupils
104
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
31
Teachers
5.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,090
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about The Link School
What is The Link School's Ofsted rating?
The Link School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in June 2018, it was rated Good.
How many pupils go to The Link School?
The Link School has around 164 pupils on roll. 72% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Link School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
The Link School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026).
How many road collisions happen near The Link School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 27 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot. 13 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 The Link School?
The Link School is at Swindon Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR3 4EE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)