Sunnydale Community College is a smaller-than-average secondary school. There are very few students from minority ethnic backgrounds or that speak English as an additional language. The proportion of students known to be eligible for the pupil premium is well above the national average. The pupil premium is additional government funding provided for students known to be eligible for free school meals, for children who are looked after by the local authority, and students whose parents are serving in the armed forces. The proportion of students who are disabled or have special educational needs and are supported at school action is well above the national average. The proportion of students supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. A very small number of Key Stage 4 students attend off-site provision at The Green School and South West Durham Training Limited. One student currently attends Bishop Auckland College on a part-time basis. Sunnydale Community College for Maths and Computing is federated with Greenfield Community College – a specialist Arts and Science School. The headteacher of Greenfield Arts College has recently been appointed as executive headteacher of both schools in the federation and will take up post in September 2014. The school is also part of the Aycliffe and Shildon Schools Educational Trust established in 2009 to extend the curriculum offer for 14 to19-year-olds and to share professional expertise. The school is being supported by Bishop Barrington School, Durham to develop the quality of mathematics and the leadership of teaching. In 2013, the school did not meet the government’s floor standard, which sets out the minimum expectations for students’ attainment and progress by the end of Key Stage 4. A deputy headteacher is on long-term sickness absence. The mathematics department has also had some long-term absence of staff and difficulties recruiting suitable alternative teachers over the last three years.