Most sought-after schools in Sunderland
Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.
This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.
This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.
| # | School | First preferences per place | Newest intake | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Barnwell Academy Houghton le Spring, primary |
1.50 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 2 |
Rickleton Primary School Washington, primary |
1.45 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 3 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Sunderland, primary |
1.40 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 4 |
Willow Wood Community Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.33 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 5 |
Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.29 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 6 |
Hetton Lyons Primary School Houghton le Spring, primary |
1.24 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 7 |
St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 8 |
Hylton Castle Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 9 |
St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington Washington, secondary |
1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 10 |
Southmoor Academy Sunderland, secondary |
1.15 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 11 |
East Herrington Primary Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.08 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 12 |
Bernard Gilpin Primary School Houghton le Spring, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 13 |
Hasting Hill Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 14 |
Oxclose Primary Academy Washington, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 15 |
St Paul's CofE Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 16 |
Kepier Houghton le Spring, secondary |
1.06 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 17 |
St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy Sunderland, secondary |
1.06 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 18 |
Dubmire Primary Houghton le Spring, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 19 |
South Hylton Primary Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 20 |
St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington Washington, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 21 |
Albany Village Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 22 |
Barmston Village Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 23 |
Blackfell Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 24 |
Christ's College Sunderland, all through |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 25 |
George Washington Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 26 |
Grangetown Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 27 |
Holley Park Academy Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 28 |
Hudson Road Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 29 |
Lambton Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 30 |
Marlborough Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 31 |
New Silksworth Academy Infant Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 32 |
Plains Farm Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 33 |
Redby Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 34 |
Richard Avenue Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 35 |
Ryhope Infant School Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 36 |
Seaburn Dene Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 37 |
Southwick Community Primary School Southwick, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 38 |
Springwell Village Primary School Gateshead, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 39 |
St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Washington Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 40 |
St Benet's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 41 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Washington Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 42 |
Town End Academy Sunderland, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 43 |
Usworth Colliery Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 44 |
Wessington Primary School Washington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 45 |
Barnes Infant Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.99 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 46 |
Fulwell Infant School Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.99 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 47 |
Red House Academy Sunderland, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 48 |
Sandhill View Academy Sunderland, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 49 |
Bexhill Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 50 |
Hill View Infant Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 51 |
Monkwearmouth Academy Sunderland, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 52 |
Newbottle Primary Academy Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 53 |
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Sunderland, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 54 |
Castle View Enterprise Academy Sunderland, secondary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 55 |
Grindon Infant School Sunderland, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 56 |
John F Kennedy Primary School Washington, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 57 |
St Aidan's Catholic Academy Sunderland, secondary |
0.97 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 58 |
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Sunderland, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 59 |
St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth Sunderland, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 60 |
Valley Road Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 61 |
Farringdon Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 62 |
Washington Academy Washington, secondary |
0.96 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 63 |
Thorney Close Primary School Sunderland, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 64 |
Castletown Primary School Sunderland, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 65 |
East Rainton Primary School Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 66 |
Gillas Lane Primary Academy Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 67 |
Northern Saints Church of England Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 68 |
Oxclose Community Academy Washington, secondary |
0.94 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 69 |
Hetton Academy Houghton le Spring, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 70 |
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Ryhope Sunderland, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 71 |
Venerable Bede Church of England Academy Sunderland, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 72 |
Academy 360 Sunderland, all through |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 73 |
English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Sunderland, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 74 |
Grange Park Primary School Sunderland, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 75 |
Thornhill Academy Sunderland, secondary |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 76 |
Eppleton Academy Primary School Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 77 |
Biddick Academy Washington, secondary |
0.89 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 78 |
Diamond Hall Infant Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 79 |
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 80 |
Highfield Academy Sunderland, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 81 |
Hetton Primary School Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 82 |
Burnside Academy Inspires Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.86 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 83 |
Mill Hill Primary School Sunderland, primary |
0.84 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 84 |
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Penshaw Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.84 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 85 |
St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland Sunderland, primary |
0.83 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 86 |
Biddick Primary School Washington, primary |
0.81 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 87 |
Easington Lane Primary School Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 88 |
Shiney Row Primary School Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.75 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 89 |
Fatfield Academy Washington, primary |
0.73 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 90 |
New Penshaw Academy Houghton le Spring, primary |
0.69 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 90 schools in Sunderland have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Sunderland · How we compare schools.