Sitting on the outskirts of Durham City, Belmont Community School presents itself as a forward-looking 11–16 comprehensive that has successfully balanced modern facilities with traditional community values. The campus, which includes a dedicated Performing Arts block and refurbished science laboratories, serves approximately 850 students. It is a school that knows its identity: inclusive, grounded, and consistently rated Good by Ofsted.
The school is currently led by Ms Helen Burton, who took up the Headship in September 2024, working alongside Executive Headteacher Mr Paul Marsden. This leadership structure has provided stability during a period of curriculum refinement. The school motto, "Achieving Success Together", is more than a tagline; it underpins "The Belmont Way", a code of conduct that emphasises respect, resilience, and contribution.
The 2024 Ofsted inspection confirmed the school's standing as a Good provider, praising the calm atmosphere and the strength of relationships between staff and students. As a community school without a sixth form, the focus is exclusively on the five-year journey from Year 7 to GCSEs, ensuring that students leave well-prepared for the transition to local colleges.
The campus feels collegiate. The original buildings have been significantly enhanced by the addition of the Performing Arts block and the refurbishment of the Sports Hall, creating a site that feels well-resourced for a school of its size. The environment is orderly; the "Belmont Way" is evident in the way students move around the site and interact with visitors.
Students are organised into a House system that anchors them in their local heritage, with houses named after regional castles: Auckland, Barnard, Durham, and Lumley. This structure fosters a healthy sense of competition and belonging, with students earning points not just for academic success but for demonstrating the school's core values. The house system is also the vehicle for vertical tutoring in some contexts, promoting interaction between year groups.
Culturally, the school retains the spirit of its former specialist status in the Performing Arts. Music and drama remain central pillars of school life rather than optional extras. The sound of rehearsals often spills into the corridors after school, and the annual productions are major community events. There is no sense of this being an "exam factory"; while results matter, the school places equal weight on developing well-rounded character.
Academic performance at Belmont is solid and consistently sits above the national average for key metrics.
In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.1. This figure, which measures the average grade across eight subjects, exceeds the England average of approximately 46, indicating that students here typically secure higher grades than their peers nationally.
The Progress 8 score of +0.15 is a crucial indicator for parents. It demonstrates that students at Belmont make more progress from their Year 6 starting points than would be expected based on national trends. This positive value-added score suggests effective teaching across the ability range, not just for the most able.
The school ranks 1,497th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and sits 7th among secondary schools in Durham. This places it in the middle 35% of schools in England, reflecting performance that is solid and reliable.
In terms of core subject success, 20.6% of students achieved the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) at grade 5 or above. The average EBacc point score of 4.44 also sits above the England average of 4.08, reflecting a curriculum that maintains academic breadth.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum at Belmont is designed to be broad and ambitious. Unlike some schools that have narrowed their offer, Belmont continues to value creative and technical subjects alongside the core academic diet. The legacy of the Performing Arts specialism ensures that facilities for music, drama, and dance are superior to what one might expect in a standard comprehensive.
Science teaching benefits from the five new laboratories installed in 2017, allowing for practical-heavy instruction that engages students. In mathematics and English, the school uses setting to ensure that support and challenge are pitched correctly. The approach is structured: lessons follow clear routines, and there is a strong emphasis on "recall and retrieval" to help students commit knowledge to long-term memory.
Vocational options are robust. The school recognises that not every student is suited to a purely academic pathway and offers strong provision in Health and Social Care, Engineering, and Hospitality. The design and technology workshops are well-equipped, allowing students to produce high-quality practical work.
Support for students with Special Educational Needs (SEND) is coordinated through a dedicated team who ensure that the curriculum remains accessible. The "Hub" provides a base for intervention, but the primary strategy is inclusive quality-first teaching within the main classroom.
Quality of Education
N/A
Behaviour & Attitudes
N/A
Personal Development
N/A
Leadership & Management
Good
Admission to Belmont Community School is coordinated by Durham County Council. As a popular community school, it is frequently oversubscribed.
For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 276 applications for its 180 places. This level of demand means that living within the immediate catchment or nearby villages is often necessary to secure a place.
The admissions criteria follow the standard local authority hierarchy:
In the most recent intake, the last place was offered to a student living approximately 4.156 miles away under the "Nearest School" criterion. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.
Parents must apply via the Durham County Council website by the national deadline of 31 October. Offers are released on 1 March.
Applications
270
Total received
Places Offered
186
Subscription Rate
1.4x
Apps per place
As an 11–16 school, Belmont has no sixth form. This structure means that Year 11 is a focused year of transition, with no assumption that students will simply "stay on". The school has a dedicated Careers Lead who works with students to explore all available post-16 options.
The majority of leavers progress to Durham Sixth Form Centre or New College Durham, both of which are close partners. A significant number also move on to other local providers such as Durham Johnston or St Leonard’s for A-levels. The school ensures that students are well-informed about T-levels and apprenticeships, and the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) figures are consistently low.
Pastoral care is organised around the House system, which provides a smaller "family" unit within the larger school. Heads of House are the primary point of contact for parents and maintain an overview of each student's academic progress and wellbeing.
The school holds the "Wellbeing Award for Schools", reflecting its structured approach to mental health. There are dedicated staff trained to support students experiencing emotional difficulties, and the school works closely with external agencies when specialist help is needed.
Bullying is managed through a clear policy that emphasises restorative practice alongside sanctions. Students report that they feel safe and that staff are approachable if problems arise. The "Anti-Bullying Alliance" status further underscores the school's commitment to creating a safe environment.
Extracurricular life is vibrant and is seen as an essential part of the "Belmont Way". The school's facilities allow for a wide range of activities that go beyond the classroom curriculum.
This remains the jewel in the crown. Students have opportunities to join the choir, school band, and various drama groups. The annual musical is a highlight of the school calendar, involving significant numbers of students in cast and crew roles.
The refurbished Sports Hall and outdoor pitches support a busy fixtures list. Football, netball, and athletics are particularly strong, with teams competing regularly in local and county leagues. Badminton also features prominently due to the high-quality courts.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is popular, with many students completing Bronze and Silver levels. Academic clubs include STEM challenges, coding club, and a debating society that helps develop oracy skills.
The school runs a comprehensive trips programme, including history battlefields tours, geography field trips, and ski trips. These are designed to build independence and cultural capital.
The school day runs from 8:40 am to 3:00 pm. The location on The Links in Belmont makes it easily accessible for students from Durham City and the surrounding villages. While many students walk, there are school bus services for those travelling from further afield.
Uniform is strictly enforced: a black blazer with the school crest is mandatory. The school takes pride in appearance as a sign of readiness to learn.
Lunch is served in a modern dining hall with a cashless payment system. The menu is varied and caters to different dietary requirements, with ample "grab and go" options for students involved in lunchtime clubs.
No Sixth Form: Families should remember that this is an 11–16 school. While this allows for a very focused secondary experience, it does necessitate a move at age 16. This suits students who are ready for a fresh start at college, but those wanting a continuous seven-year run in one institution might prefer an 11–18 school.
Oversubscription: The school is popular. With nearly 1.5 applications for every place, entry is competitive. Families living on the edge of the catchment area should check the "last distance offered" data carefully.
Strict Policies: The school has high expectations regarding uniform and behaviour. This structure supports learning but requires parental buy-in. Families who prefer a more relaxed approach may find the regulations demanding.
Belmont Community School is a strong, cohesive, and effective comprehensive that serves its community with distinction. It offers the facilities of a modern academy with the warmth of a traditional community school. The academic results (ranking 7th in Durham) confirm that the teaching is rigorous, while the thriving arts and sports programmes ensure that students develop well beyond the exam hall. Best suited to families in the Durham area seeking a supportive, well-rounded education where every child is known. The main challenge is securing a place.
Yes. The school was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent ungraded inspection in March 2024. Academic results are consistently above the national average, with a Progress 8 score of +0.15 in 2024.
The school does not have a fixed catchment map. Places are allocated based on distance from the school gate via the shortest walking route. In 2025, the last place was offered to a student living approximately 4.15 miles away under the nearest school criterion, though this varies annually.
No. Belmont Community School caters for students aged 11–16. At the end of Year 11, students transfer to local sixth form colleges or other school sixth forms. The school provides extensive support for this transition.
Applications are made through Durham County Council's admissions service. The deadline for Year 7 entry is 31 October. Families are advised to list three preferences on their application form.
The school has a strong tradition in Performing Arts and Sport. Students can participate in choir, drama productions, football, netball, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Yes. In 2025, there were 276 applications for 180 places. This indicates strong local demand, and families should be realistic about their chances if living at a significant distance.
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