Classpot

Venerable Bede Church of England Academy

Sunderland, SR2 0SXSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
4 Requires improvement
Jan 2025
Progress 8
-1.04
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
106 1st-choice / 114 places
Ranking
#3,039
of 3,141 nationally

About Venerable Bede Church of England Academy

Ofsted's Parent View survey, based on 130 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 44% of parents would recommend Venerable Bede Church of England Academy to another family, while 56% would not. Despite this, the school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 191 applications for 114 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.68. 106 first-preference applications were made, and all 106 received offers. On specific questions, 62% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 70% felt their child is safe. However, only 35% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and just 42% agreed the school has high expectations for their child. For parents of children with SEND, 29% agreed the school provides the support needed, while 64% disagreed. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in January 2025 rated it Inadequate overall, a significant drop from its previous Good rating.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressTunstall Bank, Sunderland, Sunderland, SR2 0SX
HeadteacherTracey Burgess
Local AuthoritySunderland
Number of Pupils843
Free School Meals (FSM)32.0%
School Capacity843 / 900 (94% full)

The full report on this school

What 130 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 Jan 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Inadequate
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

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

Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Swimming PoolLibraryMusic RoomsGymnasiumSports HallDining HallICT SuiteAstro TurfPlaying FieldsTennis CourtsSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

HockeySwimmingCross CountryBasketballRoundersNetballRowingCricketRugbyFootball

Clubs & Activities

DebateOrchestraDuke of EdinburghChoirFilm ClubDramaYoung EnterpriseBook ClubCoding

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Venerable Bede Church of England Academy

Venerable Bede Church of England Academy has been rated "Inadequate" by Ofsted. This means the school has been identified as needing significant improvement. Ofsted will monitor the school closely.