Belmont Community School
94%
Capacity
847
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
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.
Academically, Belmont delivers solid results that outpace its local authority. Its Progress 8 score of 0.15 is well above the County Durham average of -0.21, placing the school 11th out of 31 secondaries in the area and in the top 50% nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 48.1 translates to roughly a grade 5 per subject, and 68.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with 47.8% at the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc entry rate is high at 91.2%, though only 33.1% of pupils secured a grade 4 or above across the full EBacc suite. Ofsted rated the school Good in its most recent graded inspection in 2019, and a 2024 ungraded inspection confirmed it remains Good. This represents a clear improvement from the Requires Improvement rating the school received in 2016.
Belmont offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and music rooms, alongside sports such as tennis, rugby, and cricket. There are clubs covering drama, Model UN, and eco activities. The school supports a wide spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With no sixth form, pupils will need to move on at 16. The school is oversubscribed, so families living within the catchment area should apply early. Belmont suits families who want a well-regarded local comprehensive with strong Progress 8 outcomes, a diverse extracurricular offer, and a proven track record of supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds — all within a school that has demonstrably improved its Ofsted rating over the past decade.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | The Links, Durham, County Durham, DH1 2AG |
| Headteacher | Helen Burton |
| Local Authority | County Durham |
| Number of Pupils | 847 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.5% |
| School Capacity | 847 / 900 (94% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (20 Mar 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.15)
1211th of 3,141
Nationally
33rd of 142
In North East
11th of 31
In County Durham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed186
270
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
198 families put this school as their 1st choice (73% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.1%
- Asian3.2%
- Mixed1.6%
- White (other)1.2%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
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
Contact Information
The Links, Durham
County Durham, DH1 2AG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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