Schools in County Durham
246 schools in 28 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
County Durham at a glance
- Schools
- 246 207 state primary, 30 state secondary, 5 sixth-form or college and 4 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 93% 173 of the 187 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 25 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 33 Of 228 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 38% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 89 of 237 state schools that take an intake. County Durham's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in County Durham
Primary
| Place in County Durham | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate | Durham | 1st (1/193) |
| 2 | New Seaham Academy | Seaham | Top 2% (2/193) |
| 3 | Bullion Lane Primary School | Chester le Street | Top 2% (3/193) |
| 4 | Thornhill Primary School | Shildon | Top 3% (4/193) |
| 5 | Ingleton CofE Primary School | Darlington | Top 3% (5/193) |
| 6 | Cockfield Primary School | Bishop Auckland | Top 4% (6/193) |
| 7 | Sacriston Academy | Durham | Top 4% (7/193) |
| 8 | Framwellgate Moor Primary School | Durham | Top 5% (8/193) |
| 9 | Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy | Stockton-on-Tees | Top 5% (9/193) |
| 10 | Evenwood Church of England Primary School | Bishop Auckland | Top 6% (10/193) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full County Durham primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in County Durham | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teesdale School and Sixth Form | Barnard Castle | 1st (1/30) |
| 2 | St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham | Durham | Top 7% (2/30) |
| 3 | Durham Johnston Comprehensive School | Durham | Top 10% (3/30) |
| 4 | The Academy at Shotton Hall | Peterlee | Top 14% (4/30) |
| 5 | Tanfield School | Stanley | Top 17% (5/30) |
| 6 | Sedgefield Community College | Stockton-on-Tees | Top 20% (6/30) |
| 7 | Wolsingham School | Bishop Auckland | Top 24% (7/30) |
| 8 | Whitworth Park Academy | Spennymoor | Top 27% (8/30) |
| 9 | Easington Academy | Peterlee | Top 30% (9/30) |
| 10 | Woodham Academy | Newton Aycliffe | Top 34% (10/30) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full County Durham secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Barnard Castle 8 schools · best schools
- Bishop Auckland 35 schools · best schools
- Chester le Street 15 schools · best schools
- Consett 18 schools · best schools
- Crook 12 schools · best schools
- Darlington 4 schools · best schools
- Durham 52 schools · best schools
- Ferryhill 8 schools · best schools
- Hartlepool 4 schools · best schools
- Newton Aycliffe 12 schools · best schools
- Peterlee 16 schools · best schools
- Seaham 10 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | County Durham council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | County Durham council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | County Durham council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | County Durham council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | County Durham council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | County Durham council |
Every County Durham admission date · After offer day in County Durham: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for County Durham. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 89 of 237 state schools (38%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in County Durham: we hold checked fees for 2 of 4 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town. Nurseries in County Durham by Ofsted rating.
Every school in County Durham
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.