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EnglandDurham

Schools in Durham

Founded in 995 when Anglo-Saxon monks chose a meander of the River Wear as a safe home for the relics of St Cuthbert, Durham grew into the county town of County Durham and one of England's most celebrated medieval cities. Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle, together a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rise above the river gorge at the centre, with hilly streets descending to the water on three sides. Around 50,000 people live across the built-up area today.

Quarryheads and North End are among the city's most school-competitive neighbourhoods, drawing families seeking places at the area's well-regarded state schools, while Framwellgate Moor extends the residential belt to the north. Crossgate Moor and Gilesgate add further family-friendly pockets to the south and east. Durham station sits on the East Coast Main Line, with services reaching Newcastle in around fifteen minutes.

Area Performance

Durham schools rank in the top 47% of England

Across 61 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.40/10, -0.02 vs England.

Find My School Inspection Band

7% Elite

Distribution across all Durham schools

7%
28%
54%
11%
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping

Durham vs England distribution

National Rank

Top 47%

Across all ranked Durham schools

Top 47%Primaryavg #6,968 of 14,873
Top 52%Secondaryavg #1,914 of 3,671
Top 37%Sixth formavg #833 of 2,262

Primary schools: 43 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.09 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,968
+3 pts vs medianmedian 7,437

top 47% of 14,873

% reaching expected RWM standardstate
66%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.09 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,968
+3 pts vs medianmedian 7,437

top 47% of 14,873

% reaching expected RWM standardstate
66%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%

Secondary schools: 8 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
-0.02 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,914
-2 pts vs medianmedian 1,836

top 52% of 3,671

% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
45%
-11 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
47.1
+8.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
-0.02 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,914
-2 pts vs medianmedian 1,836

top 52% of 3,671

% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
45%
-11 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
47.1
+8.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1

Sixth form schools: 10 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.0/10
+0.29 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#833
+13 pts vs medianmedian 1,131

top 37% of 2,262

% A*-A at A-Level
27%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
56%
+6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.0/10
+0.29 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#833
+13 pts vs medianmedian 1,131

top 37% of 2,262

% A*-A at A-Level
27%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
56%
+6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%

Overall Oxbridge

#805

7 ranked schools · +109 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,984

Applications

80

Offers

16

Offer rate20.0%
-2.4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%

Oxford

#272

4 ranked schools · -19 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,198

Applications

41

Offers

3

Offer rate7.3%
-7.8 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%

Cambridge

#854

7 ranked schools · -81 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,881

Applications

39

Offers

13

Offer rate33.3%
+3.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
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