Farringdon Academy

About Farringdon Academy

Farringdon Academy is a mixed state primary school in Sunderland, currently home to 370 pupils against a capacity of 377, meaning it is essentially full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 44.4%, which is notably high and suggests the school serves a community with significant socioeconomic need. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 53 applications for 47 places, making it officially oversubscribed. Of those applicants, 45 listed Farringdon as their first preference, and all 45 were offered a place. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.13, indicating that while competition exists, most families who want a place here are likely to secure one. The school has a nursery provision, so children can join from age three, and it is non-denominational, with no religious character. Headteacher Claire McDermott leads a school that has clearly built a solid local reputation, given the steady demand.

Academically, Farringdon Academy is rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in March 2022, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The inspection awarded Good across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 62% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. This is slightly below the local authority average of 67% for Sunderland primary schools. Looking at individual subjects, 67% met the expected standard in reading, 69% in maths, and 71% in writing. Higher attainment was less common: 11% achieved a higher standard in reading, 5% in writing, and none in maths. The school’s average scaled scores were 103 in reading and 101 in maths. Nationally, Farringdon ranks in the 53rd percentile among all primary schools, and within Sunderland it sits 51st out of 73 schools, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a dining hall, plus an outdoor playground. Sports on offer include rounders, cricket, athletics, football and swimming, and there are clubs such as science club, choir and art club. For families with children who have additional needs, Farringdon provides support for a wide spectrum of conditions: specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a potentially strong choice for parents seeking an inclusive mainstream setting. The school is oversubscribed but not fiercely so, and with a nursery on site, it can be a convenient option for families in the area looking for continuity from early years through to Year 6. It suits families who value a Good-rated, community-focused primary with strong SEND provision and a clear improvement trajectory.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Farringdon Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents