Framwellgate School Durham
Durham, DH1 5BQ · County Durham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
14th 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 — 6.2/10 against 873 of them, against 5.3/10 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 | 46.8 · 55 | 46% | 2.54 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.05 · 46 | 38% | 1.78 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.9 · 65 | 15% | 1.00 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Framwellgate School Durham overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 40.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.2, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.05 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join paired reading with younger students, Numeracy and Literacy Buddies, a British Sign Language short course, a first aid course, music groups, and sports teams.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,204 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,330. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about Framwellgate School Durham
Overview
Framwellgate School Durham is described as a place where pupils are taught to be “compassionate and respectful,” fostering positive relationships and strong pastoral care. While behaviour and personal development are rated as good, the quality of education and leadership require improvement due to inconsistencies in curriculum delivery and support for specific pupil groups.
Strengths
- Pupils behave well, are “polite and courteous,” and are motivated by a behaviour policy focused on rewards.
- The sixth form is a strength, with students acting as “positive role models” and achieving well through independent study.
- Personal development is supported through a well-designed PSHE curriculum, extra-curricular activities, and a commitment to equality and inclusion.
- Safeguarding arrangements are “thorough and effective,” with pupils knowing who to approach with concerns.
- Staff feel supported by leaders, who prioritise well-being and are backed by “highly skilled governors and trustees.”
Areas to improve
- The curriculum is not implemented consistently across all subjects, leading to gaps in knowledge because teachers do not systematically check understanding or address misconceptions.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is variable, as not all staff have the secure understanding or training to meet specific needs effectively.
- Weakest readers, including those at early stages, do not receive adequate support because very few staff possess the necessary skills, such as phonics teaching, to help them.
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 | 48.0 |
| 2024/25 | 45.2 |
| 2025/26 | 48.9 |
| 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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