St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Sunderland for girls aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 150 of its 1,297 pupils (11.6%) were getting SEN support and 9 (0.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,297 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Sunderland.
11.6% get SEN support
150 of 1,297 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
0.7% have an EHC plan
9 of 1,297 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism44
- Social, emotional and mental health38
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia34
- Moderate learning difficulty28
- Speech, language and communication7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 1,297 (places for 1,400)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Marie Lanaghan
- Part of
- Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 22.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sunderland
- School reference (URN)
- 138054
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Sunderland council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, January 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Thornhill Terrace, Sunderland, SR2 7JN
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Barbara Priestman Academy Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Ashbrooke School Independent · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Valley Road Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Thorney Close Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Thornhill Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 21.3%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.2 miles
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.6%, EHC plans 0.8% 0.4 miles
- St Aidan's Catholic Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 10.2%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Sunderland SEND schools in Sunderland
Questions about St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy
How many pupils at St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 150 of the 1,297 pupils (11.6%) were getting SEN support and 9 (0.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (44 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (38 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (34 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy?
Through Sunderland council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy?
You can ask for St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Valley Road Academy, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy?
Thornhill Terrace, Sunderland, SR2 7JN, in Sunderland.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.