The best schools in County Durham

Compare 258 schools in County Durham on one page: the top-rated primary and secondary schools ranked by Ofsted, SATs and GCSE results and our composite score, plus every independent and special school in the area. Top of the list: Thornhill Primary School (primary) and St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham (secondary).

Local Authority 258 schools

Primary schools

209 primary schools in County Durham, ranked by our composite score. Showing the top 6.

Thornhill Primary School

Ofsted: Outstanding
Type
Community school
Phase
Primary
Location
Shildon, DL4 1ES

Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School

Ofsted: Good
Type
Voluntary controlled school
Phase
Primary
Location
Darlington, DL2 3NL

New Seaham Academy

Ofsted: Good
Type
Academy converter
Phase
Primary
Location
Seaham, SR7 0HX

St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham

Ofsted: Good
Type
Academy converter
Phase
Primary
Location
Seaham, SR7 0HW

Greenland Community Primary School

Ofsted: Good
Type
Academy converter
Phase
Primary
Location
Stanley, DH9 7EZ

St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School

Ofsted: Good
Type
Voluntary aided school
Phase
Primary
Location
Durham, DH1 3DQ
See all 209 primary schools in County Durham

Secondary schools

30 secondary schools in County Durham, ranked by our composite score. Showing the top 6.

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

Ofsted: Outstanding
Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
Location
Durham, DH1 4NG

Tanfield School

Ofsted: Strong
Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
Location
Stanley, DH9 8AY

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Ofsted: Outstanding
Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
Location
Peterlee, SR8 1AU

Sedgefield Community College

Ofsted: Outstanding
Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
Location
Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3DD

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Ofsted: Strong
Type
Community school
Phase
Secondary
Location
Durham, DH1 4SU

Teesdale School and Sixth Form

Ofsted: Outstanding
Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
Location
Barnard Castle, DL12 8HH
See all 30 secondary schools in County Durham

Independent schools

6 independent schools in County Durham, listed by Ofsted rating where one exists, then A to Z.

The Independent Grammar School:Durham

Independent School
Type
Other independent school
Location
Esh Winning, DH7 9QF

Barnard Castle School

Independent School
Type
Other independent school
Location
Barnard Castle, DL12 8UN

Delta Independent School

Independent School
Type
Other independent school
Location
Consett, DH8 5DH

Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation

Independent School
Type
Other independent school
Location
DH1 4SZ

Durham High School

Independent School
Type
Other independent school
Location
DH1 3TB

Open Air Education

Independent School
Type
Other independent school
Location
SR8 1NJ
See all 6 independent schools in County Durham

SEND and special schools

13 special schools in County Durham, listed by Ofsted rating where one exists, then A to Z. Showing the top 6.

The Grange Learning Centre

Ofsted: Outstanding
Type
Other independent special school
Location
Low Willington, DL15 0TY

The Oaks Secondary School

Ofsted: Outstanding
Type
Community special school
Location
Spennymoor, DL16 7DB

Croft Community School

Ofsted: Expected
Type
Community special school
Location
Stanley, DH9 8PR

Durham Trinity School & Sports College

Ofsted: Good
Type
Community special school
Location
Durham, DH1 5WB

Elemore Hall School

Ofsted: Good
Type
Community special school
Location
Durham, DH6 1QD

Evergreen Primary School

Ofsted: Good
Type
Community special school
Location
Bishop Auckland, DL14 6LS
See all 13 special schools in County Durham

Schools in County Durham: common questions

Faith schools in County Durham

See every school in County Durham

Browse the full list with filters for phase, Ofsted rating and our score.

Browse all County Durham schools