The Link School

Alternative provision
Local authority maintained
Ages 7 to 14

Ofsted: Good

Swindon Road, Sunderland, SR3 4EEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

The Link School is an alternative provision school in Sunderland for ages 7 to 14. It is one of the 122 schools in Sunderland. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2018.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 12 June 2018, report published 17 July 2018

Overall effectiveness: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Pupil numbers and mix

164 pupils on roll

Eligible for free school meals72%

72%, 45.5 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language0.6%

0.6%, 21 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support78%

78%, 63.2 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.7%

3.7%, 2.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near The Link School

School	Distance	Ofsted
Consilium Evolve	1 mile	Ofsted: Good
Beacon of Light School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good
Alternative Education Service - The Beacon Centre	6 miles	Ofsted: Good
River Tyne Academy Gateshead	8 miles	Ofsted: Good
Endeavour Academy Durham	9 miles	Ofsted: Good

School details

School type: Pupil referral unit
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 7 to 14
Gender: Mixed
Headteacher: Mrs Donna Walker
Phone: 01915623630
Website: linkschool.org.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Swindon Road, Sunderland, SR3 4EE
Local authority: Sunderland
URN: 135640

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.