Venerable Bede Church of England Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Sunderland for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 94 of its 738 pupils (12.7%) were getting SEN support and 10 (1.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 738 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Sunderland.
12.7% get SEN support
94 of 738 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.4% have an EHC plan
10 of 738 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism49
- Social, emotional and mental health29
- Moderate learning difficulty18
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia5
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 738 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mr Jordan Bedford
- Part of
- Northern Lights Learning Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 34.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sunderland
- School reference (URN)
- 139184
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
Serious weaknesses. Graded by area, January 2025; school remains Good (November 2021)
Ofsted has placed this school in serious weaknesses.
Inspected in January 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
Tunstall Bank, Sunderland, SR2 0SX
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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
- Mill Hill Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Thornhill Park School Independent · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.3 miles
- Barbara Priestman Academy Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- Valley Road Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 16.9%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.4 miles
- New Silksworth Academy Infant Primary · Ages 2–7 · SEN support 20.5%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.5 miles
- New Silksworth Academy Junior Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 30%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Sunderland SEND schools in Sunderland
Questions about Venerable Bede Church of England Academy
How many pupils at Venerable Bede Church of England Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 94 of the 738 pupils (12.7%) were getting SEN support and 10 (1.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Venerable Bede Church of England Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (49 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (29 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (18 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Venerable Bede Church of England 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 Venerable Bede Church of England 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 Venerable Bede Church of England Academy?
You can ask for Venerable Bede Church of England 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 Venerable Bede Church of England 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 Mill Hill Primary School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is Venerable Bede Church of England Academy?
Tunstall Bank, Sunderland, SR2 0SX, 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.