Schools by area › County Durham › Durham Academy
Durham Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Bracken Court, Ushaw Moor, Durham DH7 7NG · durhamacademy.org.uk · 0191 373 0336
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 37.4
- average Attainment 8 score. County Durham 44.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 405
- 58% of 693 places
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 59%
- First language not English
- 6.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 83 families put the school first and 89 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 | 89 | 83 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 89 | 82 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 93 | 67 | 0.7 | 97% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 98 | 60 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 103 | 42 | 0.4 | 98% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 37.4, and 22% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼37.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼22.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼44.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼26.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.11 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 114311)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 7.5 | +5.3 |
| Further education | 64.2 | −6.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 7.5 | +0.8 |
| Employment | 7.5 | +4.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.7 | −5.5 |
| Activity not captured | 7.5 | +1.9 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
| 2015/16 | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| A level | 2 | — | -0.27 |
| All academic | 2 | — | -0.27 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 114311)
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Durham Academy on 20 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 20 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Mar 2022
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 114311), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2022Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114311)
- Mar 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
- Oct 2019Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
Oct 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114311)
Sept 2014Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate 16 to 19 study programmes Inadequate Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114311)
Feb 2011Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114311)
What parents said
63% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (43 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 63%
- Positive
- 54%
- Replies
- 43
- 11% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 93% who raised concerns
based on 10 parents (23%) whose child was bullied
based on 16 parents (37%) with SEND