County Durham GCSE results 2026: secondary school league table
30 state secondary schools in County Durham ranked on their 2026 GCSE results (Attainment 8, the 2025/26 academic year, the latest DfE has published for every school), with grade 7+, grade 5+ and grade 4+ in English and maths, cohort size for each school against the England average. 4 independent schools with published results are listed separately, unranked.
Secondary schools in County Durham ranked on Attainment 8
30 of 30 schools have published 2026 results. Source: DfE school performance tables, 2025/26.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 | Grade 7+ English & maths | Grade 5+ English & maths | Grade 4+ English & maths | EBacc APS | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | England average | 46.2 | 14% | 46% | 65% | – | – |
| 1 , up 8 places since 2025 | Teesdale School and Sixth Form Barnard Castle · Academy sponsor led | 57.0 | 29% | 66% | 88% | – | 110 |
| 2 , down 1 place since 2025 | St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham Durham · Academy converter | 56.5 | 18% | 60% | 81% | – | 209 |
| 3 | Durham Johnston Comprehensive School Durham · Community school | 56.3 | 27% | 66% | 79% | – | 263 |
| 4 , up 1 place since 2025 | The Academy at Shotton Hall Peterlee · Academy converter | 55.0 | 22% | 56% | 79% | – | 225 |
| 5 , down 3 places since 2025 | Tanfield School Stanley · Academy sponsor led | 54.4 | 23% | 63% | 84% | – | 131 |
| 6 , up 1 place since 2025 | Sedgefield Community College Stockton-on-Tees · Academy converter | 52.4 | 19% | 55% | 69% | – | 189 |
| 7 , up 13 places since 2025 | Wolsingham School Bishop Auckland · Academy converter | 52.0 | 15% | 53% | 75% | – | 150 |
| 8 | Whitworth Park Academy Spennymoor · Academy sponsor led | 51.3 | 15% | 54% | 70% | – | 195 |
| 9 , down 3 places since 2025 | Easington Academy Peterlee · Academy converter | 51.0 | 13% | 55% | 77% | – | 127 |
| 10 , up 1 place since 2025 | Woodham Academy Newton Aycliffe · Academy converter | 50.5 | 13% | 47% | 73% | – | 200 |
| 11 , down 1 place since 2025 | Hermitage Academy Chester le Street · Academy converter | 50.1 | 14% | 50% | 72% | – | 173 |
| 12 , up 6 places since 2025 | Framwellgate School Durham Durham · Academy converter | 48.9 | 17% | 47% | 66% | – | 218 |
| 13 , down 9 places since 2025 | Belmont Community School Durham · Community school | 48.6 | 16% | 48% | 67% | – | 168 |
| 14 , up 2 places since 2025 | Seaham High School Seaham · Academy converter | 47.8 | 10% | 48% | 64% | – | 201 |
| 15 , up 2 places since 2025 | Staindrop Academy Darlington · Academy sponsor led | 47.7 | 13% | 52% | 72% | – | 75 |
| 16 , down 4 places since 2025 | Wellfield School Wingate · Academy converter | 47.3 | 9% | 50% | 70% | – | 152 |
| 17 , up 5 places since 2025 | Consett Academy Consett · Academy sponsor led | 47.2 | 12% | 41% | 67% | – | 261 |
| 18 , down 4 places since 2025 | Park View School Chester le Street · Academy converter | 46.8 | 6% | 42% | 68% | – | 237 |
| 19 | St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester Durham · Academy converter | 45.8 | 11% | 43% | 67% | – | 233 |
| 20 , down 6 places since 2025 | St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College Bishop Auckland · Academy converter | 43.8 | 8% | 45% | 64% | – | 216 |
| 21 , up 2 places since 2025 | King James I Academy Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland · Academy converter | 43.1 | 4% | 30% | 55% | – | 135 |
| 22 , down 1 place since 2025 | St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College Peterlee · Academy converter | 42.1 | 8% | 40% | 58% | – | 163 |
| 23 , down 10 places since 2025 | Parkside Academy Crook · Academy converter | 42.0 | 8% | 40% | 61% | – | 171 |
| 24 , up 1 place since 2025 | Dene Academy Peterlee · Academy converter | 41.2 | 7% | 33% | 52% | – | 104 |
| 25 , up 1 place since 2025 | North Durham Academy Stanley · Academy sponsor led | 39.9 | 4% | 27% | 49% | – | 169 |
| 26 , down 2 places since 2025 | Ferryhill School Ferryhill · Academy converter | 39.7 | 3% | 22% | 47% | – | 151 |
| 27= | Bishop Barrington Academy Bishop Auckland · Academy converter | 39.0 | 1% | 25% | 43% | – | 87 |
| 27= , up 2 places since 2025 | Durham Academy Durham · Academy converter | 39.0 | 3% | 34% | 56% | – | 59 |
| 29 , up 1 place since 2025 | Greenfield Academy Newton Aycliffe · Academy converter | 37.7 | 4% | 29% | 52% | – | 105 |
| 30 , down 2 places since 2025 | UTC South Durham Newton Aycliffe · University technical college | 33.4 | 1% | 18% | 40% | – | 154 |
Schools with the same Attainment 8 score share a rank (shown as "=").
Under each rank: the change since the 2025 table, in places gained (+) or lost (−). No figure means the rank is unchanged or the school had no ranked 2025 result.
Independent schools in County Durham with published GCSE results
Listed as published, not ranked. The DfE tables count only reformed GCSEs, so a school whose pupils sit IGCSE, Pre-U or the IB reports a lower figure than its results merit, or none at all. Compare independent schools on their own published examination results and inspection reports.
| School | Attainment 8 (as published) | Grade 5+ English & maths | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnard Castle School Barnard Castle · Other independent school | 42.2 | 0% | 67 |
| Delta Independent School Consett · Other independent school | 3.9 | 0% | 23 |
| Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation Other independent school | 33.1 | 0% | 69 |
| The Independent Grammar School:Durham Esh Winning · Other independent school | 32.0 | 23% | 13 |