Belmont Community School
About Belmont Community School
Belmont Community School in County Durham is a mixed 11-16 secondary that currently educates 847 pupils against a capacity of 900, leaving a small buffer of around 50 places. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 33.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national secondary average of roughly 24%. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 270 applications for 186 total places, with 198 of those as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of 1.45 means nearly one and a half families compete for every spot, and 181 first-preference offers were made, suggesting most successful applicants got their top choice. This level of demand, combined with the high FSM figure, paints a picture of a school that is both popular locally and serving a catchment with above-average levels of deprivation.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Mar 2024Latest monitoring visit (20 Mar 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:30
Source: belmontschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Belmont Community School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
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SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices