Classpot

North Durham Academy

County Durham, DH9 0TWSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2022
Progress 8
-0.43
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
138 1st-choice / 187 places
Ranking
#2,502
of 3,141 nationally

About North Durham Academy

North Durham Academy is a mixed state secondary school in County Durham, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. Within the local authority, it ranks 27th out of 31 schools of the same type, placing it in the bottom half of the county’s secondary landscape. The top-performing peers in the area, based on Progress 8 scores, are Tanfield School, St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham, and The Academy at Shotton Hall. The school is led by headteacher Mark Gray and has a capacity of 1,700 pupils, though current numbers sit at 976, leaving significant room for growth. Over half of its students — 50.7% — are eligible for free school meals, which is notably high and reflects the academy’s role in a community with considerable socio-economic challenges. The school is non-religious and does not have a sixth form, so pupils move on elsewhere after Year 11.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHigh Street, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 0TW
HeadteacherMark Gray
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils976
Free School Meals (FSM)50.7%
School Capacity976 / 1,700 (57% 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

21 Jun 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
LibrarySports HallICT SuiteAstro TurfPlaying FieldsSwimming PoolDining HallTheatreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

HockeySwimmingCross CountryNetballFootballGymnasticsTennis

Clubs & Activities

DramaScience ClubArt ClubFilm ClubDebate

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

Source: northdurhamacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About North Durham Academy

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