Washington Academy, Washington
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Washington Academy excels at creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where every child feels they belong. The school provides excellent pastoral support through dedicated tutors and offers a wide range of enriching activities. Staff genuinely care about pupils' wellbeing and work hard to remove barriers to learning, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive culture where all pupils feel safe, valued and supported
- High-quality pastoral care with one-to-one tutor meetings after each holiday
- Well-designed curriculum that is typically well taught with clear explanations
- Effective leadership focused on breaking down barriers for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Improving attendance and reducing suspension rates through supportive behaviour systems
Areas for Improvement
- Achievement in national tests and examinations still below national benchmarks
- Too many pupils miss lessons due to persistent absence
- Teaching not yet highly effective or consistent across all subjects
- Some pupils need better subject-specific support to embed learning over time
- Individual needs of pupils with SEND not consistently met with tailored support
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met. The school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre trips, beach trips, visits to iconic local attractions, school production, cheerleading, darts, sports clubs, Korean club, cheese club, cultural capital Saturday trips to Liverpool and London
Washington Academy is a happy, caring school where pupils and staff enjoy warm, respectful relationships. The school has made improvements in reading and mathematics, though achievement in national tests and examinations remains below national benchmarks.
At a Glance
58.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
17.7
Avg class size
28
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
70%
Available places
627 pupils
900 capacity
273 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Washington
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Washington
Admissions Demand - Sunderland
Places available
3,354
Applications
2,859
Got 1st preference
95.1%
Got preferred school
99.0%
Secondary admissions across Sunderland (2025/26)
Inspection History(110)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.96843%
Overall absence
37.43922%
Persistent absence
617
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Washington Academy
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Washington
Albany Village Primary School
Usworth Colliery Primary School
Wessington Primary School
Barmston Village Primary School
St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Washington
Marlborough Primary School
George Washington Primary School
John F Kennedy Primary School
Biddick Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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