Hetton Academy
North Road, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton le Spring, DH5 9JZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Hetton Academy is a secondary school in Houghton le Spring for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 122 schools in Sunderland. It ranks 2nd of 18 secondary schools in Sunderland. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 December 2024, report published 28 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 10 December 2024
Hetton Academy is a rapidly improving school. Leaders from the school, and from the Northern Education Trust, have successfully embarked on transforming the school. While some of this improvement work is ongoing, other aspects are embedded. For example, pupils' performance in external examinations has improved rapidly. The school's published outcomes are now well above local and national averages. Staff have high expectations for pupils' conduct both in and out of lessons. As a result, the school is calm. The school provides individuals with the support that they need to improve their behaviour. However, some pupils are still removed too frequently from lessons, particularly those in key stage 3. Pupils and staff have positive relationships with each other. This ensures that pupils feel safe. The school offers extra-curricular activities that some pupils take advantage of. Clubs such as various sports activities develop pupils' interests. School productions bring pupils together from across key stages to develop their talents in performing. Pupils on the school council feel heard by adults and appreciate that changes are made due to their feedback.
What the school should improve
- There is variability in the extent to which the school's work on aspects of personal development is benefiting older pupils. This means that some pupils do not remember important information about relationships. The school should address these gaps to make sure that pupils are fully prepared for life after school.
- Rates of suspension remain high, and leaders rightly want these to reduce further. When not in schools, pupils are not benefiting from the school's much-improved curriculum. Leaders should embed the positive climate for learning so that suspensions reduce further.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
116 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
681 pupils on roll, with places for 900
Schools near Hetton Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kepier | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 43.6 |
| Belmont Community School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 53.4 |
| Farringdon Community Academy | 4 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 44.6 |
| Seaham High School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.8 |
| Venerable Bede Church of England Academy | 5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Inadequate to requires improvement | Attainment 8: 44.1 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Vicky Pinkney
- Phone
- 01915623322
- Address
- North Road, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton le Spring, DH5 9JZ
- Local authority
- Sunderland
- URN
- 149235
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.