School Chooser

St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademyRoman Catholic203 pupilsNursery Free breakfast clubSunderland
School Chooser Score
64
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 39 to 82
Out of 100. Better than 75% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, November 2024
Reached the expected level at 1154%England 63%
Attendance94.5%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families25%About the same as most schools in England
Places7 spare203 pupils, 210 places
Pupils per teacher18.0School workforce census

St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland is a converter academy in Sunderland for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 203 pupils and room for 210. About 25 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 64 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 75% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.

Bradford Avenue, Sunderland, SR5 4JW0191 536 8090stjohnboscosunderland.org.ukMrs Lianne Peart acting headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 26 November 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Outstanding
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Outstanding
Early years
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

28 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1154%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level11%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score105.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score103.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 68%68%20172018: 76%76%20182019: 69%69%20192023: 70%70%20232024: 61%61%20242025: 54%54%2025
Since 2017: -14%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure2025202420232019†2018†2017†SunderlandEngland
Pupils tested283130262125
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths54%61%70%69%76%68%67%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths11%6%10%8%14%12%10%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score105.0102.0107.0105.0107.0104.0105.6105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score103.0102.0105.0105.0106.0106.0104.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score105.0103.0105.0106.0106.0108.0105.7105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard64%71%77%81%81%76%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard64%74%80%81%86%84%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)68%71%80%77%81%84%
Reading progressReading progress score+0.9-1.2+3.7-0.1
Maths progressMaths progress score+0.3-0.9+3.3+1.3
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged50%36%50%44%67%64%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged56%75%77%82%83%71%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

† These results are for St John Bosco Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, the school this one replaced in January 2022. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 3 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
50%56%
Gap 6 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
50%60%
Gap 10 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
10%11%
Gap 1 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Plenty of spare places178 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
85% full

32 places were empty (15% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 11% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Sunderland council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll203Census January 2026
Places21097% full
Pupils from low-income families24%25% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English6%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support18%37 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%5 pupils with a plan
Average class size26.01 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)29%£77,500 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls111 / 92
White British pupils82%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (14), Autistic spectrum disorder (11), language and communications needs (5), Moderate learning difficulty (4), Hearing impairment (2), Physical disability (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census20262025202420232022
Pupils on roll203199202205221
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals24%23%25%27%24%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language6%6%5%6%7%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support16%13%11%8%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%1%2%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.5% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance94.5%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school12.6%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils4.02024/25, 1 permanent exclusion
Missed without permission1.3%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21†2018/19†England
Sessions missedOverall absence5.5%8.3%6.5%5.3%2.3%4.1%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.1%5.9%4.9%4.1%1.9%3.0%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.3%2.3%1.7%1.2%0.4%1.1%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence12.6%27.9%18.9%13.5%3.4%9.4%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate4.02.01.51.8
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions1000

† These attendance figures are for St John Bosco Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, the school this one replaced in January 2022. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers11.0full-time equivalent, 12 people
Pupils per teacher18.0Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants6.6full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£51,120
Teachers who left in the year0%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher1.22024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,883England £7,128. Total £1.4m
Income per pupil£6,919England £7,587. Total £1.4m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,091England £3,405
Money in reserve21%A lot put by: £279k, £1,415 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£7,000it took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,883spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m33512 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate92 per 1,000 peopleabout the England average
Typical house price£154,972Sunderland
Nearest bus stop110 mHylton Lane - Kentucky Road, 16 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Town End AcademyAcademy560 m218Good 202033Compare
Bexhill AcademyAcademy570 m360Outstanding 202288Compare
Hylton Castle Primary SchoolCouncil910 m229Good 202219Compare
Northern Saints Church of England AcademyAcademy1.0 miles423Report card 202690Compare
West Boldon Primary SchoolCouncil1.1 miles280Report card 202652Compare
Castletown Primary SchoolCouncil1.2 miles347Good 202271Compare
East Boldon Infants' SchoolCouncil1.2 miles163Report card 202689Compare
East Boldon Junior SchoolCouncil1.2 miles235Report card 202684Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland with the 48 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats75%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the top quarter of its group. Its score of 64 is 22 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 10 · middle 42 · highest 98100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 48 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Valley View Primary SchoolCouncil2.8 miles251No overall grade 202581Compare
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, SunderlandAcademy2.8 miles240No overall grade 202470Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 64 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 64% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 39 to 82. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%in line
-0.05
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 28 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.31
Ofsted grade, 1.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.01
DfE progress measure; 28 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.10
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
0.00
2024/25; 151 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
0.00
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 28 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland a good school?

It is about average. St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland scores 64 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 75% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 39 to 82, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland not judged at its last full inspection on 26 November 2024.

How good are St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 54% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 11% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland have?

203 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 97% full.

Is St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland oversubscribed?

Probably not. 32 places were empty in 2024/25 (15% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland?

Pupils were in school 94.5% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 13% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland?

The average class had 26.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm, Sunderland have a breakfast club?

Yes. It is on the government's free breakfast club programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Bradford Avenue, Sunderland, SR5 4JW
Telephone
0191 536 8090
Website
www.stjohnboscosunderland.org.uk
Acting Headteacher
Mrs Lianne Peart
Free breakfast club
Yes: on the government's programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school (listed since September 2026).
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic, Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
Multi-academy trust
Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust (31 schools)
Local authority
Sunderland
Ward
Redhill
Constituency
Washington and Gateshead South
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 January 2022 (academy converter)
URN
148782 · LAESTAB 3943316 · UKPRN 10089234
Formerly
St John Bosco Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

Where these figures come from