SchoolScoresBest secondary schools in County Durham
How this list works. Ranked by the percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE, averaged over up to the last three years and weighted by the number of pupils each year. Only years with at least 10 pupils count, and a school needs at least one such year to be ranked. Independent schools, special schools and alternative provision are not ranked because their results aren't comparable. Ofsted outcomes are shown alongside but are not part of the ranking. Full methodology.
| # | School | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham Johnston Comprehensive School Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 64% |
| 2 | Tanfield School Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 63% |
| 3 | St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 62% |
| 4 | Belmont Community School Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 | 54% |
| 5 | Teesdale School and Sixth Form Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 | 54% |
| 6 | The Academy at Shotton Hall Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) | 54% |
| 7 | Easington Academy Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 52% |
| 8 | Sedgefield Community College Ofsted: Outstanding (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2022 | 51% |
| 9 | St John's Catholic School and Sixth Form College Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 | 48% |
| 10 | St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected | 48% |
| 11 | Wellfield School Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion) | 47% |
| 12 | Whitworth Park Academy Ofsted: Good (2022) | 45% |
| 13 | Park View School Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 45% |
| 14 | Parkside Academy Ofsted: Good (2023) | 45% |
| 15 | Hermitage Academy Ofsted: Good (2024) | 45% |
| 16 | Framwellgate School Durham Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 44% |
| 17 | Wolsingham School Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2023 | 43% |
| 18 | Woodham Academy Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 | 42% |
| 19 | Staindrop Academy Ofsted: Good (2021) | 41% |
| 20 | St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 | 40% |
| 21 | Consett Academy Ofsted: Good (2023) | 39% |
| 22 | Seaham High School Ofsted: Good (2023) | 38% |
| 23 | King James I Academy Bishop Auckland Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected | 30% |
| 24 | Dene Academy Ofsted: Good (2023) | 29% |
| 25 | Ferryhill School Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2022 | 28% |
| 26 | North Durham Academy Ofsted: Good (2022) | 27% |
| 27 | Greenfield Academy Ofsted: Requires improvement (2019, before conversion) | 26% |
| 28 | Bishop Barrington Academy Ofsted: Good (2024) | 25% |
| 29 | UTC South Durham Ofsted: Good (2024) | 24% |
| 30 | Durham Academy Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 3 expected, 1 needs attention | 18% |
Result: grade 5 or above in English and maths. Source: DfE school performance tables to 2025; Ofsted inspection data.
Page updated 26 September 2026.