Durham Academy
Bracken Court, Durham, DH7 7NG
405 pupils · 58% of 693 capacity
- Phase
- Secondary
- Type
- Academy converter
- Ages
- 11–16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Does not apply
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Trust
- ADVANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Free school meals
- 59%
Ofsted
Expected standard (2026) — Report card — the most common grade across the inspected areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
| Safeguarding | Met |
Inspected 20 January 2026, published 8 March 2026. Read the full Ofsted report
England has three coexisting inspection systems — how we translate them into one signal.
Exam results
| Measure | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Attainment 8 score | 37.4 |
| Grade 5 or above in English & maths (strong pass) | 22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & maths (standard pass) | 44% |
| Entering the English Baccalaureate | 26% |
Progress 8 is not published nationally for 2024/25 and 2025/26 while KS2 baselines are missing (no SATs in 2020/21). It returns from 2026/27.
“Not published (small cohort)” means the DfE suppressed the figure to protect small cohorts — it is not a zero.
Will my child get in?
Usually has places available — 0.93 first-choice applications per place (Sept 2026 entry)
| Entry | Places | 1st preferences | Total preferences | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 entry | 89 | 83 | 117 | 86 |
| Sept 2025 entry | 89 | 82 | 148 | 87 |
| Sept 2024 entry | 93 | 67 | 117 | 76 |
| Sept 2023 entry | 98 | 60 | 105 | 74 |
First-choice demand varies year to year, and the school’s admission criteria — not demand — decide who is offered a place. Use this as a rough signal, never a prediction.
Nearby alternatives
- Durham Johnston Comprehensive School 2.7 km · No overall grade (2025)
- St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham 3.3 km · No overall grade (2024)
- Framwellgate School Durham 3.8 km · No overall grade (2024)
- Belmont Community School 7.1 km · Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system
- Hermitage Academy 8.3 km · Good (2024) · previous system
- St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester 8.8 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2026)
Straight-line distance — not travel time, and not a catchment. Same phase, open schools only.
Data from DfE and Ofsted open data (OGL v3) — sources. School record updated 10 July 2026. Report incorrect data.