Redby Academy

About Redby Academy

Redby Academy is a state primary school in Sunderland that currently educates 270 pupils, well below its capacity of 420. This leaves significant room for growth, and the school’s intake reflects a broadly representative local demographic: 13.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which sits slightly below the national average for primary schools. Despite the spare capacity, demand for places is strong. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 61 applications for just 23 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.65. All 23 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning that while the school is popular, families who list it first have a good chance of success. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, serving children from age 3 through to 11, with nursery provision available. Melanie Wight is the headteacher.

Academically, Redby Academy performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 68% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just above the Sunderland local authority average of 67%. This places the school 36th out of 73 primary schools in the area, squarely in the middle of the pack. Results are stronger in writing, where 88% met the expected standard and 12% achieved a higher score, and in reading, where 80% met the expected standard and 32% reached the higher standard. Maths scores are more modest, with 73% at the expected level and an average scaled score of 104. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This is a consistent rating; the previous inspection in 2017 also awarded Good overall.

The school offers a practical range of facilities, including a sports hall, dining hall, sensory room, music rooms and a chapel. Sports provision covers cross country, athletics, dance, gymnastics and football, while extracurricular clubs include choir, gardening, eco club, coding and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Redby Academy is a good fit for families seeking a well-regarded, non-faith primary in Sunderland that is not oversubscribed to the point of being inaccessible, and where academic outcomes are in line with or slightly above the local average. Its spare capacity also suggests smaller class sizes than some neighbouring schools.

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