Monkwearmouth Academy

About Monkwearmouth Academy

Monkwearmouth Academy in Sunderland has turned a significant corner, earning a Good rating from Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2023 after being judged Inadequate in 2019. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.21 tells the most informative story about its academic outcomes: pupils here achieve slightly below the national average, but the score is above the Sunderland local authority average of -0.31, placing the school 8th out of 17 secondary schools in the area. That puts it in the top half of schools locally, with a national percentile ranking of around 65. The Attainment 8 score of 46.2 and the basics measure—67% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths—give a solid picture of where students finish their GCSEs. The school’s EBacc entry rate is high at 64.8%, though the proportion achieving the EBacc at a grade 4 or above is 28.5%, and at a grade 5 or above it drops to 17.9%.

Ofsted’s breakdown from the 2023 inspection shows the school is now consistently Good across all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all received the same rating. The Progress 8 banding is described as Average, which aligns with the school’s position relative to the national picture. The school has a sixth form, though no separate Ofsted rating is available for that provision. The headteacher, Iain Buddle, leads a school of 802 pupils against a capacity of 1516, meaning there is room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 29.8%, above the national average, which adds context to the Progress 8 score—the school is performing in line with expectations given its intake.

For families considering Monkwearmouth, the school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 234 applications for 163 places, with 160 first-preference offers made. Facilities are strong for a state secondary, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, art studios, and a sixth form centre. The sports offer is unusually broad, with rowing, martial arts, rugby, and cricket alongside more traditional options. There are ten listed clubs including Debate, Coding, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision covers seven areas including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech and language needs. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, improving comprehensive with decent facilities and a wide extracurricular offer, particularly if they value a sixth form on site.

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