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Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation

All-through · Mixed · Ages 3–18 · Independent school

Quarryheads Lane, Durham DH1 4SZ · dcsf.org.uk · 0191 731 9270

On the mapSearch near DH1 4SZ

Overview

Inspection
ISI
Inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, not Ofsted
A levels, 2024/25
B-
average result (35.9 points per entry)
Pupils
661
78% of 847 places
Local authority
County Durham
Sixth form
Yes
Nursery class
Yes

The official school record (Department for Education)

Results

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35.9 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 41.4 (England 46.3)41.42017/18: 51.3 (England 46.5)51.32018/19: 49.3 (England 46.7)49.32021/22: 46.2 (England 48.8)46.22022/23: 34.8 (England 46.3)34.82023/24: 33.0 (England 45.9)33.02024/25: 31.6 (England 46.0)31.6England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼31.646.0
▼0.0%45.4%
▼0.0%64.8%
▼0.0%40.5%
▼3.474.09

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 35.8 (England 30.5)B-2016/17: 37.0 (England 31.1)B-2017/18: 36.1 (England 32.1)B-2018/19: 38.3 (England 32.9)B-2021/22: 41.5 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 36.7 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 38.4 (England 34.4)B2024/25: 35.9 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
74 studentsB- (35.9)Above average +0.16
74 studentsB- (36)Above average +0.16
12 studentsMerit (24.6)Well below average -0.75
16.9%AAB or better
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2459B (38.4)+0.07
2022/2360B- (36.7)—
2021/2254B (41.5)—
2018/1972B- (38.3)+0.39
2017/1870B- (36.1)+0.19
2016/1769B- (37)+0.41
2015/1678B- (35.8)+0.25

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University48.3−19
Further education1.7−3.7
Apprenticeship1.7−5.6
Employment25.9+18.6
Not in a lasting destination6.9+3.3
Activity not captured15.5+6.4

ISI

Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, not by Ofsted.

Standards
Met
Inspected
27 to 29 January 2026
Routine inspection

Safeguarding metInspection reports

Standards

Quality of educationMet
Health and emotional wellbeingMet
Social and economic educationMet
Leadership and governanceMet

Earlier inspections

Also near this school

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