Plains Farm Academy vs St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in North East, England, 1.1 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Plains Farm Academy
Sunderland · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
164 students
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland
Sunderland · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
472 students
| Measure | Plains Farm Academy Sunderland, North East | St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Sunderland, North East |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 47 Lower 50% | 97 Top 5% |
| Region rank | #437 of 811 | #9 of 811 |
| National rank | #8740 of 15,697 | #155 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Academy |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 3–11 | Ages 3–11 |
| Students | 164 | 472 |
| Pupils on roll | 164 | 472 |
| Free school meals | 41.8% | 6.8% |
| Capacity filled | 68.3% | 112.4% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 65% | 95% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 9% | 31% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Sunderland | Sunderland |
| region | North East | North East |
| Website | www.plainsfarmacademy.co.uk | www.smrc.school |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland scores higher on the Success Index (England) (97.2 vs 46.7).
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (95% vs 65%).
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland does better on ks2: higher standard (31% vs 9%).
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland is the larger school with 472 students compared with 164.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Plains Farm Academy better than St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland?
On the Success Index (England), St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland ranks higher (97.2 vs 46.7 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Plains Farm Academy and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Sunderland and Sunderland in North East.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Plains Farm Academy: 164. St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland: 472. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Plains Farm Academy and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland rank in North East?
Plains Farm Academy is 437th of 811 and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland is 9th of 811 among primary schools in North East on the 2025 Success Index (England).