Classpot

Hetton Academy

Sunderland, DH5 9JZSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
4 Good
Dec 2024
Progress 8
+0.18
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
119 1st-choice / 128 places
Ranking
#1,118
of 3,141 nationally

About Hetton Academy

Hetton Academy is a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Sunderland, and it has quietly become one of the strongest performers in the local authority. According to the most recent data, it ranks second out of 17 schools in Sunderland on Progress 8, placing it in the top 12% of the LA. The only school ahead of it is St Aidan's Catholic Academy, while St Robert of Newminster and St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy round out the top four. That’s impressive company for a non-selective, non-faith school. The headteacher is Vicky Pinkney, and the school serves 671 pupils against a capacity of 900. Just over 43% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average, making its strong academic showing all the more notable. The school does not have a sixth form, so students leave at 16, and it has no religious character.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressNorth Road, Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, DH5 9JZ
HeadteacherVicky Pinkney
Local AuthoritySunderland
Number of Pupils671
Free School Meals (FSM)43.4%
School Capacity671 / 900 (75% full)

The full report on this school

What 59 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

10 Dec 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 28 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
LibraryGymnasiumTennis CourtsDining HallScience LabsTheatreSixth Form CentrePlaying FieldsSports HallAstro TurfChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

NetballHockeyCross CountryFootballDanceMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseDramaNewspaperScience ClubChessFilm ClubModel United NationsChoir

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Hetton Academy

Hetton Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.