Best Secondary Schools in Durham

We checked all 7 secondary schools in Durham, County Durham, and list every one: 6 ranked, then 1 without a rank.

Schools checked
7
Ranked
6
Without a rank
1

Ranks combine 2024/25 GCSE results, worth 60% of each school's score, with the latest Ofsted outcome, worth 40%, as how we rank schools sets out. Rank 1 is the highest score in Durham. Schools with the same score share a rank. Schools without published results or an Ofsted outcome follow the ranked schools, in name order.

Durham also has 44 primary schools, ranked on SATs results and Ofsted. Every school in the area is also listed with the other schools in County Durham.

Ranked secondary schools in Durham

  1. 1

    St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

    Academy, 1,293 pupils, inspected October 2024

    Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
    Attainment 8
    57.7
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    59.1%

  2. 2

    Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

    Local authority maintained, 1,667 pupils, inspected February 2025

    Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
    Attainment 8
    55.2
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    62.1%

  3. 3

    Belmont Community School

    Local authority maintained, 887 pupils, inspected February 2019

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    53.4
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    59.2%

  4. 4

    St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester

    Academy, 1,240 pupils, inspected March 2026

    Report card: Expected standard
    Attainment 8
    44.9
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    42.4%

  5. 5

    Framwellgate School Durham

    Academy, 1,204 pupils, inspected November 2024

    Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good
    Attainment 8
    45.2
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    40.1%

  6. 6

    Durham Academy

    Academy, 405 pupils, inspected January 2026

    Report card: Needs attention to strong standard
    Attainment 8
    37.4
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    22%

Secondary schools in Durham without a rank