St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington is a mainstream secondary school in Washington, Sunderland, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 210 of its 1,527 pupils (13.8%) were getting SEN support and 27 (1.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,527 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Sunderland.
13.8% get SEN support
210 of 1,527 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.8% have an EHC plan
27 of 1,527 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism86
- Social, emotional and mental health62
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia60
- Hearing impairment10
- Speech, language and communication6
- Moderate learning difficulty5
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
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,527 (places for 1,550)
- Headteacher
- Mrs R Gundlach
- Part of
- Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 18.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sunderland
- School reference (URN)
- 147142
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, March 2012; school remains Good (October 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2012. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, October 2023).
Contact and getting there
Biddick Lane, Washington, NE38 8AF
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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
- Biddick Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.3 miles
- Columbia Grange School Special school · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- John F Kennedy Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.8 miles
- The Poplars Independent · Ages 8–18 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Fatfield Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 20.6%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.3 miles
- Biddick Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 0.7% 0.5 miles
- Lambton Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22.9%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Sunderland SEND schools in Sunderland
Questions about St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington
How many pupils at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 210 of the 1,527 pupils (13.8%) were getting SEN support and 27 (1.8%) 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 Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (86 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (62 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (60 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington?
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 Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington?
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 Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington?
You can ask for St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington 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 Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington 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 Biddick Academy, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington?
Biddick Lane, Washington, NE38 8AF, 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.