Biddick Academy

About Biddick Academy

Biddick Academy is a popular choice among Sunderland families, with 388 applications for 220 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.76. Of those, 196 first-preference families received an offer, suggesting strong local demand. The school does not publish a parent-view recommendation score, so it is harder to gauge satisfaction directly, but the high application numbers indicate that many families see it as a viable option. Headteacher Kate Morris leads a mixed, non-denominational secondary for 11 to 16 year olds, with 1,069 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,100. Just over 30 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the school’s inclusive intake.

Academically, Biddick Academy’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good overall, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. However, inspectors noted that behaviour and attitudes still require improvement, which is worth bearing in mind. In the 2023/24 exam results, the school’s Progress 8 score was -0.25, placing it in the ‘below average’ band nationally. That is slightly above the Sunderland local authority average of -0.31, so pupils here make marginally more progress than peers in other local schools. The Attainment 8 score of 43.9 is modest, and 45.5 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 28.4 per cent, with 14 per cent achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the Sunderland league table, Biddick ranks 9th out of 17 schools by Progress 8.

The school offers a decent range of facilities, including a theatre, music rooms, science labs, and a library, plus sports such as swimming, athletics, and netball. There is a strong extracurricular programme with clubs like Debate, Model UN, Coding, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, which suggests the school is equipped to support a wide range of additional needs. There is no sixth form, so pupils will need to move on after Year 11. Biddick Academy suits families who want a large, oversubscribed local school that has improved its Ofsted rating and offers a full range of clubs and sports, but who are realistic about its below-average Progress 8 score and the behaviour challenges flagged by inspectors.

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