Schools by area › County Durham › Dene Academy
Dene Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Manor Way, Peterlee SR8 5RL · deneacademy.org.uk · 0191 554 6000
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Nov 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.4
- average Attainment 8 score. County Durham 44.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 638
- 78% of 818 places
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 62.5%
- First language not English
- 5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 101 families put the school first and 104 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 104 | 101 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 113 | 113 | 1 | 99% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 116 | 106 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 111 | 108 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 199 | 103 | 0.5 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.4, and 33.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across County Durham it was 44.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼33.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼52.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼28.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.40 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 114313)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 3.8 | −2 |
| Sixth form college | 0.8 | — |
| Further education | 78.5 | +8.7 |
| Other education | 0.8 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 0.8 | −6.4 |
| Employment | 1.5 | −3.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10 | −0.8 |
| Activity not captured | 3.8 | +2.4 |
Ofsted
Dene Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 22 November 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 22 Nov 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, May 2018
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 114313), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
May 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114313)
Nov 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114313)
Nov 2012Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114313)
What parents said
72% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (83 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 72%
- Replies
- 83
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 90% who raised concerns
based on the 55% who had a child bullied
based on 27 parents (33%) with SEND