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Tanfield School

County Durham, DH9 8AYSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
4 Good
Sep 2024
Progress 8
+0.83
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
185 1st-choice / 149 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#173 of 3,141 nationally

About Tanfield School

If you're a parent in County Durham looking for a secondary school, the experience of other families at Tanfield School is a strong signal. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, a remarkable 94% of the 69 respondents said they would recommend the school. The feedback on specific areas is equally striking: 88% of parents strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and 97% either agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. Behaviour and safety also score exceptionally well, with 97% of parents agreeing their child feels safe and a combined 97% agreeing that the school ensures pupils are well behaved. This positive reputation is reflected in demand for places. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 405 applications for 149 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.72, with 143 of those places going to first-preference applicants.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressTanfield Lea Road, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 8AY
HeadteacherSteven Clough
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils702
Free School Meals (FSM)32.2%
School Capacity702 / 690 (102% full)

The full report on this school

What 69 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

24 Sept 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 24 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Music RoomsSwimming PoolICT SuiteTheatreSports HallPlaying FieldsDining HallAstro TurfArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

TennisSwimmingRoundersCricketAthleticsBasketballMartial ArtsRugbyDance

Clubs & Activities

DramaNewspaperGardeningDuke of EdinburghFilm ClubChoirOrchestraYoung Enterprise

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tanfield School

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