Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
Durham, DH1 4SU · County Durham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th of 30 secondary schools in County Durham we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 764 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.0/10 among them, against 7.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 66.2 · 88 | 46% | 4.05 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.18 · 63 | 38% | 2.43 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 56.3 · 87 | 15% | 1.34 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 62.1% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 55.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.18 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.6 out of 10 among them, against 7.7 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Debating Society, Vex V5 & IQ Robotics, and the Chamber Choir. Sports include tennis, cricket, and skiing, with summer trips to Malaga. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,667 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,700. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain progress scores above the national baseline? What specific support is available for students aiming to join the robotics or debating teams?
What Ofsted said about Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
Overview
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School is described as a place where pupils feel “safe, happy and valued” within a “warm, harmonious ethos.” The report highlights “exceptional” sixth-form provision and “consistently calm” behaviour, though it notes that teaching quality and support for specific pupil groups are not yet consistently effective across the school.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate a “strong moral compass” and a tangible commitment to public service and community contribution.
- The sixth-form provision is “exceptional,” with expert support enabling students to achieve highly in external examinations.
- Behaviour is “consistently calm and purposeful,” with bullying reported as rare and dealt with “highly effectively.”
- An “exceptionally well-constructed” personal, social, health and economic education (PHSE) programme helps pupils develop a rich understanding of the world.
- Staff have “strong subject knowledge” and, when they check prior knowledge, pupils learn very effectively and apply it flexibly.
Areas to improve
- Support plans for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are not always used routinely by teachers, causing some to struggle in lessons.
- Systems to support pupils with gaps in phonological knowledge are not fully developed, meaning some do not receive timely reading support.
- Leaders do not always precisely evaluate the impact of improvement actions, limiting their ability to refine strategies effectively.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 56.7 |
| 2024/25 | 55.2 |
| 2025/26 | 56.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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