SchoolScoresTeesdale School and Sixth Form
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of NORTH EAST LEARNING TRUST
Prospect Place, Barnard Castle, DL12 8HH
01833 638166 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 18 June 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 5 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
155 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
County Durham comparisons use the 15 of its 31 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 16 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 12th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 84% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 11th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 87% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 13th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 22% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 82% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 70 parents whose child had been bullied 8th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 54% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 51% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 125 parents who had raised a concern Joint 13th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 14% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 70% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 63 parents of children with SEND 7th highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 14% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 40% | 61% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 13th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 17% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 22%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. County Durham figures pool parents at the County Durham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
120 pupils in this year group.
49% — 8 points above the County Durham average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 49.6 | 44.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
106 pupils in this year group.
96% — 7 points above the County Durham average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 96% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 30% | 30% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 25% | 4% | 13% |
| Further education college | 26% | 46% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 9% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 96% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
29 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C+ | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 20% | 30% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 48% | 60% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 34.1 | 35.7 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
14 subjects, 75 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 10 | 10% | 20% | 20% |
| Biology | 9 | 0% | 11% | 27% |
| English Language | 7 | 0% | 14% | 13% |
| English Literature | 7 | 0% | 14% | 23% |
| History | 7 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 7 | 14% | 43% | 40% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Photography), Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Art and Design, Geography, Mathematics (Further), Design and Technology (Product Design).
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
48 students in this year group.
94% — 18 points above the County Durham average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 94% | 76% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 11% | 7% |
| Work | 23% | 28% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 90% | 94% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
38 students in this year group.
66% — 16 points above the County Durham average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 66% | 50% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 34% | 18% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 54% | 66% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in County Durham. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 99 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 94 |
| Of those, offered a place | 94 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 133 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 28th highest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.5% | 32.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 27th highest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Higher than 15% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.4% | 2.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.9% | 13.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 23rd highest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.0% | 4.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in County Durham. Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 8.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 30 state secondary schools in County Durham. Lower than 50% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.4% | 25.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Lower than 36% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 21.1 | 18.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 19th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Lower than 51% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.7% | 7.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.29% | 0.46% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.5 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Higher than 86% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7 | 12.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 29th highest of 31 state secondary schools in County Durham. Higher than 4% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 4.5% | 10.4%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Barnard Castle School 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 26% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Teesdale School and Sixth Form's Ofsted rating?
Teesdale School and Sixth Form was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 June 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 5 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Teesdale School and Sixth Form do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Teesdale School and Sixth Form?
59% of the 155 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Teesdale School and Sixth Form to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Teesdale School and Sixth Form oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 94 families put Teesdale School and Sixth Form as their first choice for 99 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 94 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 144496.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.