St Aidan's Catholic Academy
Willowbank Road, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, SR2 7HJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Aidan's Catholic Academy is a secondary school in Sunderland for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 122 schools in Sunderland. It ranks 1st of 13 secondary schools in Sunderland. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 18 February 2025, report published 25 March 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 18 February 2025
St Aidan's is a thriving and happy place. Pupils are extremely proud to be part of this highly ambitious school. Leaders have the highest expectations for the pupils. Pupils meet these expectations consistently. The school's values are visible through all the work done, particularly in pupils 'making excellence a habit'. The relationships between staff and pupils are exceptionally strong. Pupils feel cared for and know that staff have their best interests at heart. Pupils demonstrate kindness, both in and out of lessons. They treat everyone with courtesy and respect those with different lifestyles and backgrounds. Staff consistently engage pupils in thinking about their personal development. Pupils readily work through the 'CLIMB' approach to develop their own high aspirations. They grow to understand their potential impact on the world, through both small and large actions. Almost all pupils achieve highly and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve exceptionally well. Pupils welcome opportunities to extend their experiences wherever possible. Almost all of them participate in the wide range of activities the school provides. Pupils and students in the sixth form actively contribute to the life of their peers. Staff encourage all pupils to take part, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
What the school should improve
- The curriculum does not have a consistent impact for some students in the sixth form. Therefore, some students are not achieving as highly as they could. The school should continue to embed and develop the curriculum in all subjects so that all achieve well.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
123 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
61 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,057 pupils on roll, with places for 1,000
Schools near St Aidan's Catholic Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornhill Academy | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 41.4 |
| Argyle House School | 0.4 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 49.3 |
| Southmoor Academy | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 49.0 |
| St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 50.7 |
| Hopespring Sunderland | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- BISHOP CHADWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Boys
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Anne-Marie Whitten
- Phone
- 01915200333
- Address
- Willowbank Road, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, SR2 7HJ
- Local authority
- Sunderland
- URN
- 139538
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.