Schools by area › County Durham › UTC South Durham
UTC South Durham
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 14–19 · University technical college
Long Tens Way, Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe DL5 6AP · utcsouthdurham.org · 01325 430250
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 39.2
- average Attainment 8 score. County Durham 44.1, England 46
- Pupils
- 421
- 70% of 600 places
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 36.5%
- First language not English
- 3.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 39.2, and 29.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across County Durham it was 44.1, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (31.9 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼39.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼29.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼49.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼0.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼2.88 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 48.8 | +7.3 |
| Sixth form college | 4.1 | −0.1 |
| Further education | 24.8 | −2.3 |
| Other education | 0.8 | −0.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 8.3 | −1 |
| Employment | 5 | −5.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.8 | +0.7 |
| Activity not captured | 2.5 | +1.7 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 students | C+ (31.9) | Well above average +0.49 | |
| 30 students | C (31.6) | Well above average +0.59 | |
| 24 students | Dist (35.4) | Above average +0.45 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 33 | C- (27.5) | +0.20 |
| 2022/23 | 46 | D+ (21.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 30 | C- (25.1) | — |
| 2018/19 | 19 | D (19.8) | -0.07 |
| 2017/18 | 22 | D- (15.8) | -0.82 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 22.1 | +0.1 |
| Further and other education | 10.3 | +3.5 |
| Further education | 4.4 | +1 |
| Other education | 5.9 | +2.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 25 | −2.1 |
| Employment | 26.5 | −10.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 14.7 | +9.6 |
| Activity not captured | 1.5 | −0.2 |
Ofsted
UTC South Durham was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 5 March 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 5 Mar 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (49 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 96%
- Replies
- 49
- 11% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 67% who raised concerns
based on 3 parents (6%) whose child was bullied
based on 26 parents (53%) with SEND