Portland Academy Catchment Area
Portland Academy is an academy special converter not applicable school in Sunderland , serving pupils aged 11-19, with 208 pupils, and a capacity of 180 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-19
Age range
208
Pupils
180
Capacity
116%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2019
Portland Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Portland Academy?
The catchment area for Portland Academy is the geographic zone Sunderland uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Sunderland publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Portland Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Sunderland. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Sunderland publishes the 2027 Portland Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Sunderland before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Sunderland catchment area documents →Portland Academy: heavily oversubscribed at 116% capacity
Portland Academy has a published admission number of 180 places. 208 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 116%. At 116% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Sunderland allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 63.7% of pupils at Portland Academy are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Sunderland.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Sunderland publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Sunderland school admissions →
Portland Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Weymouth Road, Chapelgarth, Sunderland, SR3 2NQ
- Local authority
- Sunderland
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 11-19 years
- Free school meals
- 63.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138526
Other Not applicable Schools in Sunderland
If Portland Academy is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Sunderland are the next closest alternatives.
Argyle House School Catchment Area
Other independent school · SR2 7LA
Thornhill Park School Catchment Area
Other independent special school · SR3 1SS
Sunningdale School Catchment Area
Community special school · SR3 2PP
Education and Services for People with Autism Catchment Area
Special post 16 institution · SR5 3RL
University of Sunderland Catchment Area
Higher education institutions · SR1 3SD
The Link School Catchment Area
Pupil referral unit · SR3 4EE
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Portland Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Portland Academy
What is the catchment area for Portland Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Portland Academy is the geographic zone Sunderland uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Sunderland publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Portland Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Portland Academy currently has 208 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 180 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Portland Academy? ▾
Admission to Portland Academy is managed by Sunderland. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Portland Academy cover? ▾
Portland Academy is a not applicable school in Sunderland, serving pupils aged 11-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Portland Academy? ▾
Portland Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.