UTC South Durham
Ofsted
Official inspection reports and grades
Inspected 5 March 2024
Previous inspections
- 9 January 2019Full inspectionGoodReport
Results
Compared with the local authority and England
KS4 Results
Attainment and progress
Attainment 8 scores a pupil's best 8 GCSE results, out of about 90. Progress 8 compares those results with pupils who started secondary school at the same level: 0 is average.
| Measure | School | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 score | 39.2 | 44.1 | 46.1 |
GCSE results
Grade 4 is a standard pass; grade 5 is a strong pass.
| Measure | School | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 29% | 42% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 50% | 61% | 65% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 41% | 57% | 60% |
English Baccalaureate
The EBacc is English, maths, science, a language, and history or geography. It is a set of subjects rather than a qualification.
| Measure | School | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering the EBacc | 0% | 33% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 2.9 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Based on 141 pupils at the end of key stage 4.
Catchment area
Pupils and staff
Pupils
- Pupils
- 450
- Capacity
- 600
- Girls / boys
- 22% / 78%
- Free school meals
- 33%
Staff
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26.2
- Teaching assistants (FTE)
- 4.4
- Leadership (FTE)
- 5
- Part-time teachers
- 7%
School workforce census, 2025/26.
Parent View
Ofsted’s survey of parents at this school
Ofsted changed the Parent View questions in November 2025, so some questions differ between years.
96%
of parents would recommend this school to another parent
49 responses up to 6 April 2026 · 11% response rate
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Don’t know
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
My child is happy at this school.
94% agreeMy child feels safe at this school.
96% agreeThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.
92% agreeMy child has been bullied, and the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.
100% agreeMy child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.
85% agree
Questions about UTC South Durham
What is UTC South Durham's Ofsted rating?
UTC South Durham was graded Good at its last Ofsted inspection, on 5 March 2024.
Does living near UTC South Durham guarantee a place?
No. Distance only counts when UTC South Durham has more applicants than places. Then its admission criteria, set by its academy trust, decide who is offered a place first. Children in care or adopted from care come first by law. Most schools put brothers and sisters of current pupils next, then distance or a catchment area. How far away the last place went changes every year, depending on who applies.
How many pupils are at UTC South Durham?
UTC South Durham had 450 pupils aged 14 to 19 at the latest school census. Its official capacity is 600. It is a mixed school with a sixth form.
