Ferryhill School
Ferryhill, DL17 8RW · County Durham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
26th 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 2.6/10 against 338 of them, against 1.4/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 21.9 · 5 | 30% | 0.15 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.37 · 23 | 25% | 0.57 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.7 · 18 | 10% | 0.18 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ferryhill School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 24.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.37 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join boxing, football, and skiing clubs. Trips include visits to Alton Towers, Flamingo Land, the Lake District, London, France, Canada, the Seychelles, and America.
Getting in
The published school roll is 727 pupils against a stated capacity of 915. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Ferryhill School
Overview
Ferryhill School continues to be a good school, playing an important role in its community with high aspirations for all pupils. Leaders provide a high-quality education alongside exciting life experiences, such as the ‘Adventures’ programme, ensuring pupils feel safe, valued, and prepared for their futures. The school fosters a positive, respectful environment where bullying is not considered a problem and staff feel well supported.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ambitious, with teachers using effective strategies like ‘flashback’ tasks and precise vocabulary teaching to help pupils build knowledge.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the same curriculum as their peers and are generally supported effectively by teachers who expertly adapt their teaching.
- Careers provision is a strength, with leaders ensuring pupils receive right advice and information to make the best choices about their futures.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff clearly understanding risks and acting quickly on information to keep pupils safe.
- Staff are proud to work at the school, feeling well supported and welcomed, particularly those in the early stages of their careers.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure that all subject areas are planned precisely regarding the most important knowledge pupils need to know, as curriculum thinking is stronger in some subjects than others.
- Leaders should ensure robust systems are in place to assure themselves of the consistency of provision for pupils with SEND by involving all relevant stakeholders in monitoring.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with pupils feeling safe and trusting adults to keep them protected.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.8 |
| 2024/25 | 41.5 |
| 2025/26 | 39.7 |
| 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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