City of Sunderland College
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About City of Sunderland College
City of Sunderland College, a state-funded 16-99 mixed sixth form in Sunderland, received a Well below average progress banding in its most recent 2023/24 A-level data, with a value-added score of -0.85. This means students achieved nearly a grade lower per entry than the national average, with a points per entry of 24.51 (graded D+). The best three A-levels averaged a C- grade, and only 5.2% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The college’s value-added lower confidence interval sits at -0.92 and the upper at -0.78, indicating the negative progress is statistically significant. With 397 pupils in the cohort, this is a large sixth form, but the academic outcomes suggest students typically leave with lower grades than their prior attainment would predict. The college does not offer a separate Progress 8 measure for GCSEs, as it only admits students from age 16.
Compared to the Sunderland local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.31, the college’s A-level value-added of -0.85 is notably weaker. The LA has only one Outstanding school among its 19 state secondaries, St Aidan’s Catholic Academy, located 1.3 km away, which ranks as the top peer with a ranking score of 0.37. Other strong local peers include Hetton Academy (0.18) and St Robert of Newminster Catholic School (0.13). For families prioritising academic progression, these alternatives may offer stronger outcomes. However, the college’s large cohort and wide age range (16-99) suggest it serves a diverse student body, including adult learners, which may affect its overall performance profile.
The college offers extensive facilities including a gymnasium, swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and a dedicated sixth form centre, alongside clubs like Debate, Young Enterprise, DofE, and Model UN. Sports offered include swimming, rugby, rowing, and dance. With no religious character and a mixed gender intake, it suits families seeking a non-denominational, large sixth form with broad extracurricular options. Oversubscription data is not provided, but the college’s size and adult learner provision suggest it is accessible. Parents should weigh the weak academic value-added against the strong facilities and wide age range when considering this option for post-16 study.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 16 to 99 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Bede Centre, Sunderland, Sunderland, SR3 4AH |
| Headteacher | Toni Rhodes |
| Local Authority | Sunderland |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
GCSE Results
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
30.4
'22/23
25.4
'23/24
24.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2333%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 1343 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
7%
Russell Group
9%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)33%
- Employment31%
- Not sustained18%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Further education6%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology97
- Mathematics91
- Sociology80
- Biology72
- History54
- Chemistry53
- English Literature51
- Law50
- Business Studies:Single48
- Physics38
- Geography35
- English Language33
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Facilities
14Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About City of Sunderland College
Contact Information
Bede Centre, Sunderland
Sunderland, SR3 4AH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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