SecondaryState · Academy converter

Durham Academy

Bracken Court, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7NG ·

Report card: areas need attention· 2026

At a glance

A state secondary academy for ages 11–16 in Durham. Ofsted report card (January 2026): areas need attention. GCSE results are well below the England average (Attainment 8: 37.4 vs 46.1, 2024/25). 83 families put it first for 89 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 11–16
Pupils: 405
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Admissions: Non-selective
Local authority: County Durham
Academy trust: ADVANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Headteacher: Ms Alison Jobling
Opened: Jan 2023

School website 01913730336 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted report card (renewed framework)

Read reports

Inspected 20 Jan 2026Published 8 Mar 2026

SafeguardingMet
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Report cards grade each area separately on a five-point scale, from Urgent improvement to Exceptional. There is no single overall grade, and results are not directly comparable with earlier grades such as “Good”.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 50 pupils

Attainment 8

37.4

England 46.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths

22%

England 45.4%

Grade 4+ Eng & maths

44%

England 64.8%

Progress 8

-0.25

2023/24 · CI -0.64 to 0.13

This school

37.4

County Durham

44.1

England

46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Earlier years include results published for this school's predecessor (URN 114311), for example before it converted to an academy.

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

Search for your address on the map to see straight-line distances to schools.

Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made

1st preferences

All applications

117

1st prefs per place

0.93

Fewer first choices than places

83 of 83 first-preference applicants were offered a place (100%).

Earlier years include data recorded for this school's predecessor.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils

396

Capacity

693

58% full

Girls / boys

46/54

Mixed

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)62.1%
English as an additional language6.8%
SEN support28.8%
Education, Health and Care plan6.1%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.