Barbara Priestman Academy is a special academy in Sunderland for children and young people aged 11 to 19. It supports autism and severe learning.
- Ages 11–19
- 189 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Special academy
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 189 (places for 178)
- Headteacher
- Mr Graeme Musson (Acting Head Teacher)
- Part of
- The Ascent Academies' Trust
- Opened
- 1 August 2012
- Free school meals
- 61.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sunderland
- School reference (URN)
- 138530
Needs it supports
2 needs: autism, severe learning
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Sunderland (4)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Sunderland council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, January 2015; school remains Good (March 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2024).
Contact and getting there
Meadowside, Sunderland, SR2 7QN
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Consilium Evolve Alternative provision · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Ashbrooke School Independent · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Thornhill Park School Independent · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
All SEND schools in Sunderland
By need in Sunderland: Autism (10) · Speech and language (5) · Severe learning (5) · Physical (3) · SEMH (2) · Moderate learning (2) · PMLD (2)
Questions about Barbara Priestman Academy
How do I get a place at Barbara Priestman Academy?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult Barbara Priestman Academy. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Barbara Priestman Academy support?
Autism and severe learning difficulty. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Barbara Priestman Academy take?
Aged 11 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Barbara Priestman Academy’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2024 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is Barbara Priestman Academy?
Meadowside, Sunderland, SR2 7QN, in Sunderland.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.