Classpot

Dene Academy

County Durham, SR8 5RLSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2023
Progress 8
+0.33
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
113 1st-choice / 113 places
Ranking
#789
of 3,141 nationally

About Dene Academy

Dene Academy’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, rated the school Good overall, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement in 2018. The inspection found the quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all to be Good. The most telling academic metric is the school’s Progress 8 score of 0.33, which is classed as Above average nationally. This means pupils at Dene Academy achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. To put that in context, the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools in County Durham is -0.21, so Dene is performing well above its local authority peers. The school ranks 5th out of 31 secondary schools in County Durham on this measure, placing it in the top 16% of the local authority and the top 12% of schools in the North East region.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressManor Way, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 5RL
HeadteacherDavid Nelson
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils641
Free School Meals (FSM)59.8%
School Capacity641 / 818 (78% full)

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 English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

22 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Music RoomsDining HallSports HallTennis CourtsLibrarySixth Form CentreICT SuiteArt StudiosSwimming PoolAstro TurfTheatreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

FootballDanceGymnasticsMartial ArtsRugbyNetballHockeyAthleticsRowing

Clubs & Activities

CodingChoirDuke of EdinburghOrchestraDramaFilm ClubYoung EnterpriseModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthVisionPhysicalOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Dene Academy

Dene Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.