Classpot

Ferryhill School

County Durham, DL17 8RWSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Sep 2022
Progress 8
-0.37
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
106 1st-choice / 121 places
Ranking
#2,383
of 3,141 nationally

About Ferryhill School

Ferryhill School is a mixed secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in County Durham, and its intake tells a distinct story. The school has capacity for 915 pupils but currently houses 731, meaning it is operating well below its physical limit. That spare capacity is interesting given the demand: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 194 total applications for 121 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.6 applicants per place. Of those, 106 were first preference offers, which exactly matched the number of first preference applications — suggesting that every family who put Ferryhill as their top choice secured a spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 46.4%, which is notably high compared with the national average for secondary schools (around 24%) and signals that the school serves a significantly disadvantaged catchment. This context matters when interpreting its academic results, as schools with high FSM rates often face additional challenges in driving attainment.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMerrington Road, Ferryhill, County Durham, DL17 8RW
HeadteacherKevin Brennan
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils731
Free School Meals (FSM)46.4%
School Capacity731 / 915 (80% 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

16 Sept 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (16 Sept 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 11 Dec 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Swimming PoolSixth Form CentreSports HallScience LabsDining HallPlaying FieldsArt StudiosLibraryTheatreGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

NetballTennisAthleticsMartial ArtsRowingHockey

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubBook ClubChessNewspaperDebateFilm Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultyProfound LearningMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ferryhill School

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