St Aidan's Catholic Academy
Extra Attention Recommended
This school is currently rated below 3 stars based on 11 published reviews. Several reviews raise serious concerns, so parents should carry out extra due diligence before considering it for their child.
- Ask direct questions about safeguarding, discipline, wellbeing and communication.
- Speak to current parents and inspect recent complaint handling before enrolling.
About St Aidan's Catholic Academy
Photos of St Aidan's Catholic Academy 12
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Key Facts
Rating Breakdown
Parent Survey
Official Ofsted Parent View data • 96 responses • 9.7% response rate
My child is happy at this school
My child feels safe at this school
The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
The school has high expectations for my child
My child does well at this school
I would recommend this school to another parent
Data from Ofsted Parent View as of September 2025. Based on 96 parent responses to the official Ofsted survey.
School Workforce
Teacher and staff information • 2024-2025
Estimated workforce data based on GIAS enrollment and national average ratios. Academic year 2024-2025.
Secondary School Results (Key Stage 4)
Exam performance data • 2023-2024
Additional Information
Data from DfE Performance Tables for academic year 2023-2024. Published January 2024. View full performance tables
Reviews 11
"Dogshit catholic school in Sunderland, who'd thought"
They had there little trail of sweets laid out
When I was here, the people who ran math and english were honestly muppets theres photos of some online, they look like fucking tossers there as well.
really no career advice or support into post education, it's a breeding ground for resentment as you will realise after they decide to just abandon you over other students, from catholic families.
It's a shame we arn't in the middle ages as I would gladly gut a few myself
"St Aidan's 6th Form"
There are many good teachers at St Aidan's and St Anthony's Sixth Form and as a kid with special needs many have gone above and beyond to try and help me within their limitations and I will always be grateful for that.
The thing I found hardest at St Aidan's a St Anthony's was the lack of extra classroom help. I really struggled. Then there were the lack of online lessons during covid and my exam year in spite of promises of great things and newsletters which made out that we'd had great online learning during covid. It's like the tale of The Emperor's New Clothes". Just because you tell a lie lots of times, it doesn't eventually make it true.
The worst thing is that St Aidan's worship at the altar of academic success and vanity and anyone who doesn't match up to this is left to their own devices. Careers advice non existent. We were palmed off with an Art Teacher who gave us zero help. At least the Head Of Sixth Form helped me with my UCAS Statement.
Btecs are rubbish. Please don't believe them when they give you all the Schtick about how great they are. You may, like me, go to a Uni Open Day at Sunderland, mention Btecs, and the invisible wall comes down immediately and they say "Oh.........Btecs". And there is the faint sound of another door closing somewhere. Plus I nearly got mugged by a druggie chav near the Uni Metro when I left for the day. A man walked up to me and unzipped my rucksack and started rummaging through it. Don't expect any help. The students here walk right past you even though you have a disability lanyard on. I hit him with my physics book and ran.
The teachers in the main are good people who will be great if you are academically minded. If you are average, forget it. The outdoor environment is nice enough. Can't comment on the food as I took my own lunch but put it this way the students have a tiny common room with a kettle and micro and the Teachers have a huge, posh room at The Briary with a vending machine. Some of the students had to sit on each others knees as there weren't enough chairs.
In terms of keeping you safe they were consistently excellent and my Mum had lots of praise for St Aidan's in that regard. I'm sure the activities were good but I never wanted to join in so can't comment.