Ofsted inspectors visited this Sunderland school and identified the following areas of improvement

Ofsted inspectors have returned to Sunderland’s Venerable Bede Church of England Academy and have judged the school to be improving in all areas.

Following their latest inspection, acting headteacher Lisa Turnbull said she was confident that “within the next academic year we will be meeting the expected standard in all areas”.

When the school was inspected in January 2025, Venerable Bede’s report card deemed the school to be inadequate for quality of education and requiring improvement for behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

However, in the report published last week, Ofsted inspectors highlighted improvements in all areas.

Lead inspector Hannah Millett said: “School leaders focus on the right areas to improve the school. Self-evaluation is accurate and improvement planning helps drive leaders’ ambitions forward.

“A significant priority is improving the consistency of teaching across the school and leaders support this with tailored professional development.”

A key focus for headteacher Ms Turnbull and executive director at the Northern Lights Learning Trust, Nikki Gibb, is changing the long-term culture at the school - something recognised by Ms Millett.

She said: “They’re sensibly prioritising long-term change in the culture. This includes ensuring staff and pupils develop warm and trusting relationships and helping parents and carers understand improvements happening in their school.”

Two key areas of improvement were identified as the behaviour and attitudes of pupils, and attendance.

Ms Millett said: “Pupils’ attendance remains below national averages, but it’s improving and leaders analyse data closely and use it intelligently to make improvements.

“The thoughtful expansion of the attendance team, including the appointment of an education welfare officer and an attendance officer, is having a positive impact.

“Pupils and staff say that behaviour is getting better and they report a calmer, more focused culture supported by clear systems.

“Pupils speak positively about improved lesson structures that are helping them settle quickly into their learning.”

The report also identified improvements in pupils’ attainment, with Venerable Bede placed in the top 20 most improved school in the country for the 2025 GCSE English and maths results.

Ms Turnbull said: “The report reflects how children are now at the centre of everything we do and shows we are improving in all areas.

“I’m particularly pleased to see staff and children are happy and proud to come to this school.”

The report commended the school’s “increasingly broad personal development programme”.

Ms Gibb said: “The school now offers increased extra-curricula opportunities including trips to Barcelona, Poland, and Rome. It’s pleasing to see inspectors report that pupils are now speaking positively about the school.”

It was a sentiment shared by Year 10 pupil Jude Moan, 15, who said: “People enjoy coming to school as there are now a lot more opportunities, which has also improved behaviour.”

The improving picture at the school is certainly supported by the judges who matter most - the pupils.

Lydia Charlton, 14, said: “The quality of education has certainly improved and our teachers really inspire our learning.”

Christopher Bennett, 15, said: “The school has certainly improved, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Amber Murray, 14, added: “Our teachers seem happier and are much more positive. There are lots more homework clubs and more support with our GCSEs.”

The school expects to receive another monitoring visit “in the summer term”, with hopes high the school will soon be judged as having made all the necessary improvements.

Ms Turnbull said: “We’re pleased with the report, but are aware there’s still work to do.”