St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy Review 2026: Academic Excellence and Gospel Values

On a prominent site in the Thornhill area of Sunderland, St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy stands as a pillar of single-sex education with a heritage stretching back to 1902. Serving a student body of approximately 1,400 students, this Catholic academy combines traditional values with a curriculum that consistently delivers results in line with the England middle average. As a member of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, the school benefits from a wider network of North East institutions while maintaining its distinct identity as a girls-only secondary school. The academy holds a Good rating from Ofsted, following an inspection in January 2023, which confirmed its status as a caring, calm, and harmonious learning environment.

The atmosphere at St Anthony's is defined by a sense of heritage and high expectations. The school motto, Fortiter et Recte (Strongly and Rightly), informs a culture where students are encouraged to lead with integrity. Since 2024, the academy has been led by Mrs Marie Lanaghan, who serves as Headteacher under the executive leadership of Mrs Francesca Craik. Under their guidance, the school has maintained its focus on the Mercy tradition, an ethos established by its founding Sisters of Mercy, which emphasises compassion and service.

Religious character is not a peripheral element here; it is woven into the daily rhythm of the school. The presence of the school chapel provides a quiet space for reflection, and the liturgical calendar dictates much of the communal life. Students describe a supportive environment where peer relationships are strong, and the single-sex setting allows for a level of confidence in the classroom that students feel might be different in a mixed environment.

In the 2024 GCSE cohort, St Anthony's students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 54.2, which is significantly above the England average of 46.2. Nearly 27% of all GCSE entries achieved the top grades of 9 to 7. These results place the school 1,362nd in England according to FindMySchool rankings, and 3rd among secondaries in Sunderland. This performance places the academy in the middle 35% of schools in England (national typical band).

The Progress 8 score of +0.09 indicates that students make progress from their primary starting points that is slightly above the England average. At A-level, the academy continues this trend of solid performance. Ranked 1,533rd in England (FindMySchool ranking) and 2nd in Sunderland for post-16 outcomes, the school saw 41.3% of students achieve A* to B grades in 2024.

The curriculum at St Anthony's is designed around the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), with 31.1% of students achieving a grade 5 or above in this suite of subjects, well above the England average. The school prioritises a traditional academic pathway while ensuring breadth through its specialist status in languages and technology. Students in Year 7 and 8 follow a wide-ranging programme that includes Latin and two modern foreign languages, typically French and Spanish.

Teachers are described as having expert subject knowledge, and lessons are structured to ensure that students are regularly challenged. The academy uses a "Mercy Curriculum" framework which seeks to link academic study to broader social and ethical questions. In the sixth form, the subject offer expands to include 30 different A-level and vocational options, allowing students to tailor their studies to their career aspirations.

Where Students Go Next

The academy has a robust pipeline to higher education. For the 2023;2024 leavers cohort, 67% of students progressed directly to university. The school's academic pedigree is evidenced by its Oxbridge success; in the measurement period, four students applied to the University of Cambridge, with one student successfully securing and accepting an offer.

Beyond traditional university routes, 8% of leavers entered apprenticeships, and 12% moved into direct employment. Popular university destinations for St Anthony's alumnae include local institutions like Newcastle and Durham, as well as Russell Group universities further afield. The school provides a dedicated careers advisor and runs a "Future Scholars" programme to support students aiming for elite universities or competitive courses such as Medicine and Law.

As a Catholic academy, admissions are managed by the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust in coordination with Sunderland City Council. The school is consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent intake, there were 316 applications for 205 places, resulting in a subscription proportion of 1.54.

Priority is given to baptised Catholic children, particularly those attending named feeder primary schools. However, the school welcomes students of other faiths or none who support the Catholic ethos, provided places are available. Families applying under faith criteria must complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) alongside the standard local authority application.

Fees & Financial Aid

This is a state-funded academy, and as such, there are no tuition fees for students to attend. The school receives Government funding through the Pupil Premium to support students from lower-income backgrounds, ensuring that financial circumstances are not a barrier to participation in school life. This funding is used to provide additional resources, 1-to-1 support, and financial assistance for school trips or uniform costs for eligible families. Parents can check their eligibility for Free School Meals via the Sunderland City Council portal.

Pastoral care is organised through a traditional year group system, with each student assigned a form tutor who acts as the primary point of contact. The school's "Mercy Care" initiative provides a tiered support system for emotional wellbeing, ranging from form-time check-ins to professional school counselling.

The academy has a strong focus on character education. The house system, named after saints, encourages healthy competition and a sense of belonging. Older students act as "Mercy Peers," mentoring younger students and helping them navigate the transition from primary school. Safeguarding is noted as a particular strength, with clear procedures that students and parents report feeling confident in.

The extracurricular life at St Anthony's is extensive, with a particular emphasis on the performing arts and STEM. The academy choir has a reputation for excellence, frequently performing at local cathedrals and community events. For those interested in technology, the "Code Club" and the "F1 in Schools" team provide hands-on experience in engineering and programming.

STEM: Innovation and Applied Science

The academy has invested heavily in its STEM facilities, including refurbished laboratories and a dedicated ICT suite for computer science. The school runs an annual STEM week where students engage in projects with local industry partners like Nissan and Sage. These connections provide students with a clear view of how their science and mathematics studies apply in the regional economy.

The school day begins at 8:40am and concludes at 3:10pm. While the academy does not offer a formal breakfast club for all, the "Mercy Café" is open before school for students to gather. Transport links are excellent, with several local bus routes stopping directly outside the Thornhill Terrace site, and the Park Lane Metro station is a fifteen-minute walk away. Limited on-site parking is reserved for staff, so parents are encouraged to use designated drop-off points in the surrounding streets.

• Single-Sex Environment: The academy is girls-only from Year 7 to Year 11. While the sixth form is also predominantly female, it does admit students from other schools (including St Aidan's Catholic Academy for boys). Families should consider if this environment suits their daughter's social and academic needs.
• Faith Commitment: The Catholic character is pervasive. Students participate in regular Masses and daily prayer. Families who are uncomfortable with explicit religious teaching may find this aspect of school life challenging.
• Oversubscribed Status: With a subscription proportion of 1.54, the school is regularly full. Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their proximity to the school and review the faith-based oversubscription criteria carefully before applying.
• Academic Pace: The focus on the EBacc means the curriculum is academically demanding. Students are expected to manage a significant homework load from Year 7 onwards.

St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy remains a premier choice for families in Sunderland seeking a disciplined, academic, and faith-centred education for their daughters. It successfully balances a respect for tradition with a forward-looking curriculum, particularly in the sciences and languages. Best suited to girls who thrive in a structured environment and who wish to pursue an academic pathway toward higher education. The main challenge for many families remains securing a place in this highly sought-after community.