The latest figures for the 2025 cohort of pupils showed 66% of Year 6 pupils in Sunderland were assessed as being at the expected standard, which is higher than the national average of 62%.
According to the Department for Education, pupils are meeting the expected standard if they achieve a scaled score of 100 or more in their reading and maths tests, and their teacher assesses them as 'working at the expected standard' or better in writing.
A significant number of Sunderland schools saw a higher percentage of children meet the expected standard by the end of Year 6 compared to both the national and local authority average.
The following 17 Sunderland schools had the highest percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard by the end of Key Stage 2. It’s important to note these are raw outcomes and, unlike previous years, don’t factor in the progress made by pupils based on their previous Key Stage 1 (Year 2) SATS assessments.
This is because there is no Key Stage 1 baseline data available to calculate primary progress measures for this year group, due to Covid-19 disruption at the time.
The list excludes special schools.

5. Rickleton Primary School
Rickleton Primary School saw 89% of pupils meeting the expected standard. | Google

6. St Paul's C of E Primary School
St Paul's C of E Primary School saw 88% of pupils meeting the expected standard. | Google

7. Bernard Gilpin Primary School
Bernard Gilpin Primary School saw 87% of pupils meeting the expected standard. | Google

8. St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghton, saw 87% of pupils meeting the expected standard. Photo: Google


