Southmoor Academy
110%
Capacity
1,392
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Southmoor Academy
Southmoor Academy is a large, mixed secondary school in Sunderland that is currently oversubscribed, a clear sign of its local popularity. With 1,392 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,264, the school is running above its official limit. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 435 applications for 237 places, with 272 of those as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.84. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 32.8%, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school's role in serving a diverse local community. The headteacher is Joanne Maw, and the school has no religious character. It also has a dedicated sixth form, offering continuity for students who want to stay on after Year 11.
Academically, Southmoor's performance is a mixed picture. Its Progress 8 score of -0.28 is classed as 'Below average' nationally, though it sits just above the Sunderland local authority average of -0.31, placing it 10th out of 17 schools in the area. The Attainment 8 score is 45.8, and 59.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 42.8% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 34.7%, with 26.3% achieving the benchmark at grade 4+. At sixth form, the picture is stronger: the school's value-added score is 0.09, rated 'Average', and students achieved an average of 36 points per entry, equivalent to a B- grade. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was judged to remain Good overall, with leadership, sixth form provision, and behaviour all rated Good.
Southmoor offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, a theatre, and astro turf, alongside a strong programme of sports and clubs such as Dance, Rugby, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school has a comprehensive set of SEND provisions, covering needs from dyslexia and autism to speech and language difficulties. Parent View responses, based on 251 respondents, are overwhelmingly positive: 92% would recommend the school, and 94% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy. However, only 71% of parents felt concerns are dealt with properly, and 23% disagreed that SEND children receive the support they need. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, inclusive community with strong sixth form outcomes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, but it may not be the best fit for those prioritising top-tier academic progress scores.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ryhope Road, Sunderland, Sunderland, SR2 7TF |
| Headteacher | Joanne Maw |
| Local Authority | Sunderland |
| Number of Pupils | 1,392 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,392 / 1,264 (110% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (28 Sept 2022): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Jan 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.28)
2197th of 3,141
Nationally
83rd of 142
In North East
10th of 17
In Sunderland
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
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
36.6
'22/23
35.9
'23/24
36.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2342%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 204 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)42%
- FE college37%
- Not sustained11%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment3%
89% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 100 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
30%
Russell Group
31%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)68%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained9%
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- Psychology31
- Biology26
- Geography15
- English Literature14
- History13
- Physics11
- Chemistry10
- Media/Film/Tv Studies10
- Business Studies:Single9
- Film Studies9
- Mathematics9
- English Language8
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.
Ofsted Parent View
251 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed237
435
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
272 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.8%
- Asian5.6%
- Mixed2.5%
- White (other)1.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
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.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
6
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 Southmoor Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Ryhope Road, Sunderland
Sunderland, SR2 7TF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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