Durham Academy
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Bracken Court Ushaw Moor Durham DH7 7NG |
| Phone | 01913730336 |
| Reference Number | 149251 |
Durham Academy demonstrates strong overall performance, with notable improvements in attendance, behavior, and personal development initiatives, reflecting the school’s commitment to creating a supportive environment for all pupils. Leaders have successfully reduced persistent absence rates and improved engagement through effective collaboration with families and external agencies. However, despite these positives, there are concerns regarding pupils' academic attainment, particularly in national tests and examinations, where results remain below average, indicating that further improvement is still required. The school is aware of these challenges and is taking steps to address them as they continue to enhance their educational offerings.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 396 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 56.31%
Girls: 43.69% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 61.1% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 7.1% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 23.1 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 56 | 31 | 87 |
| 8 | 54 | 43 | 97 |
| 9 | 41 | 52 | 93 |
| 10 | 42 | 26 | 68 |
| 11 | 30 | 21 | 51 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 87.1% |
| Unclassified | 4% |
| White, Other | 2% |
| African | 1.8% |
| Chinese | 1.3% |
| Indian | 1.3% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.8% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.5% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Expected standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Expected standard |
| > Achievement | Needs attention |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Strong standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Expected standard |
| > Inclusion | Strong standard |
| Last Report Date | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 20 Jan 2026 | School inspection |
| 06 Jan 2023 | Academy conversion letter |
Strengths
- Strong improvement in pupils' attendance and behavior.
- Effective safeguarding culture makes pupils feel safe.
- High-quality wellbeing and emotional support for all pupils.
- Leaders have a deep understanding of individual pupil needs, especially for those with SEND.
- Collaborative efforts with families and external agencies enhance support for pupils.
- Pupils engage enthusiastically in their learning experiences.
- Effective pastoral structure ensures timely support for pupils.
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils' attainment in national tests and examinations is below average.
- Inconsistent depth of knowledge among pupils across subjects and key stages.
- Closing gaps in knowledge and skills to improve overall achievement requires further attention.
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 37.4 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 22% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 42% |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 35 | 4 |
| Third Preference | 31 | 1 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor
Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham, County Durham, DH7 7LF |
0.32 miles |
|
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7LF |
0.36 miles |
|
Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery
Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham, Durham, DH7 7LF |
0.37 miles |
|
Bearpark Primary School
Colliery Road, Bearpark, Durham, DH7 7AU |
0.4 miles |
|
New Brancepeth Primary Academy
Rock Terrace, New Brancepeth, Durham, DH7 7EU |
1.06 miles |
|
Witton Gilbert Primary School
Sacriston Lane, Witton Gilbert, Durham, DH7 6TF |
1.72 miles |
|
Langley Park Primary School
Langley Park, Durham, County Durham, DH7 9XN |
1.73 miles |
|
Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery
Relly Path, Neville's Cross, Durham, DH1 4JG |
1.78 miles |
|
Langley Moor Primary School
Brandon Lane, Langley Moor, Durham, DH7 8LL |
1.84 miles |
|
Langley Moor Nursery School
Brandon Lane, Durham, DH7 8LL |
1.84 miles |
|
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor
Goatbeck Terrace, Langley Moor, St. Patricks Rc School, Durham, DH7 8JJ |
2.06 miles |
|
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School
Crossgate Peth, Durham, County Durham, DH1 4QB |
2.12 miles |
|
Brandon Primary Academy
Carr Avenue, Brandon, Durham, County Durham, DH7 8NL |
2.2 miles |
|
Framwellgate Moor Primary School
Newton Drive, Framwellgate Moor, Durham, DH1 5BG |
2.26 miles |
|
Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School
Front Street, Esh, Durham, County Durham, DH7 9QR |
2.37 miles |
|
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village
Esh Village, Durham, County Durham, DH7 9QY |
2.4 miles |
|
Sacriston Academy
Witton Road, Sacriston, Durham, DH7 6LQ |
2.42 miles |
|
Browney Primary Academy
Harle Street, Browney, County Durham, DH7 8HX |
2.54 miles |
|
St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham
Carrhouse Drive, Framwellgate Moor, Durham, DH1 5LZ |
2.56 miles |
|
St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School
Church Street, Durham, DH1 3DQ |
2.72 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
Crossgate Moor, Durham, County Durham, DH1 4SU |
1.65 miles |
|
New College Durham
Framwellgate Moor Centre, Framwellgate Moor, Durham, DH1 5ES |
1.96 miles |
|
St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham
North End, Durham, DH1 4NG |
2.03 miles |
|
Durham Trinity School & Sports College
Dunholme Close, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5WB |
2.2 miles |
|
Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation
|
2.31 miles |
|
Framwellgate School Durham
Newton Drive, Framwellgate Moor, Durham, DH1 5BQ |
2.35 miles |
|
Durham Sixth Form Centre
Providence Row, The Sands, Durham, County Durham, DH1 1SG |
2.57 miles |
|
Durham High School
|
2.66 miles |
|
The Independent Grammar School:Durham
Acton Road, Esh Winning, County Durham, DH7 9QF |
2.68 miles |
|
Belmont Community School
The Links, Belmont, Durham, DH1 2AG |
4.41 miles |
|
The Grange Learning Centre
[Postcode DL15 0TY], Low Willington, County Durham, DL15 0TY |
4.93 miles |