Of the five Sunderland schools to make the list, four are primary schools and one is secondary.
The list, which includes both state and independent schools, is the 29th edition of the prestigious publication which ranks schools based on their academic attainment.
For primary schools this is based on the on the average outcomes achieved by schools in Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) taken in Year 6. Average scores are given to each school for reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling and maths with a score of 100 indicating the level where children in that age group are expected to be working at.
For secondary schools, the rankings are based on the percentage of pupils entering exams who achieved A* to B grades at A-level or grades 9 to 7 at GCSE. To reflect the proportionate level of difficulty, A-level results are give a ‘double weighting’ for the purpose of ranking.
Due to the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic, and the replacement of examinations with teacher assessed grades, it is impossible to make a like for like comparison to pre-pandemic year groups. For this reason, the Sunday Times has used the most recent public examination results from 2017 to 2019 to attain average exam performance over this three year period.
It is for this reason that the Government has not produced comparative league tables for the last two years. Unlike the Sunday Times rankings, Government tables are based on a statistical calculation showing progress made by pupils rather than raw attainment.
The Sunday Times Parent Power School Guide also only includes rankings for schools who either published their results during this period or have since disclosed them to the Times.
Below is a list of where the five schools ranked and their performance data.
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1. File photo dated 08/02/12 of a teacher helping a pupil during a lesson. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday June 15, 2012. Four-fifths of teachers have sacrificed a night's sleep in the last six months to get through school work, according to a survey. It reveals that many teachers are spending time at the weekend and during holidays trying to catch up with marking, lesson planning and admin. The poll, by tesconnect.com, suggests that the idea that teachers finish work at 3pm and take long holidays is a myth, with the majority working more than 56 hours a week on average. In total, around 80% of the teachers questioned said they sacrificed a night's sleep to get through a backlog of work, with 41.7% giving up a night in the last month. More than three-quarters (78%) of around 1,600 people surveyed agreed that during term-time they spend every Sunday afternoon or evening working on preparing lessons, while almost two-thirds (64%) said the 'hidden' hours they spend on school-related work, for example at home, has affected their health. Around four-fifths (81%) said that these hidden hours affected their personal life. The poll found that more than half (54.5%) of teachers said they work more than 56 hours a week on average. See PA story EDUCATION Workload. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire
The Sunday Times has produced lists of the country's top performing schools which includes five Sunderland schools. Photo: David Davies/PA Wire Photo: PA
2. St Josephs RC Primary School
St Josephs RC Primary School City ranking - 1 North East ranking - 1 National ranking - 24 Reading score average - 110 Grammar, punctuation and spelling - 114 Maths - 111 Headteacher Stephanie Brown said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won this accolade which is for the whole community of St Joseph's. I'd like to thank our very committed staff, very hardworking children and our parents and governors." Photo: IAN McCLELLANDwww.ianmacphotos.c
3. Benedict Biscop C of E Academy
Benedict Biscop C of E Academy City ranking - 2 North East ranking - joint second National ranking - 43 Reading score average - 111 Grammar, punctuation and spelling - 114 Maths - 109 Headteacher Mrs Armstrong said: "I am absolutely delighted to hear that Benedict Biscop CE Academy has been ranked in the top 10 performing schools in the region. We believe that 'all things are possible' and our achievements as a school reflect this. I am so proud of all of our outstanding children, staff and families who have worked so hard over the last 18 months." Photo: Stu Norton
4. St Paul's C of E Primary School, Ryhope
St Paul's C of E Primary School, Ryhope City ranking - 3 North East ranking - 15 National ranking - 125 Reading score average - 109 Grammar, punctuation and spelling - 111 Maths - 110 Acting headteacher Jackie Graham said: "We are absolutely delighted to be ranked so highly in such a prestigious list. We have very high expectations at St. Paul's and the children rise to the challenge and do us proud every day. Our curriculum is well-rounded and our ultimate goal is to enable the children to flourish and develop their own skills and talents - but our number one priority, regardless of league tables, will always be happy, curious and confident children." Photo: Stu Norton