Tanfield School
Stanley, DH9 8AY · County Durham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
1st 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 — 9.6/10 against 744 of them, against 8.8/10 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 | 62.6 · 84 | 46% | 3.89 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.83 · 94 | 38% | 3.63 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 54.4 · 84 | 15% | 1.29 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Tanfield School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 72.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 57.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.83 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 739 pupils against a stated capacity of 690. 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
Since Progress 8 is positive, what specific support structures are in place to maintain this trajectory for students with lower starting points? How does the school manage class sizes given the current pupil numbers exceed the designated capacity?
What Ofsted said about Tanfield School
Overview
Tanfield School is described as having a "strong sense of community" where pupils and staff take pride in being part of ‘Team Tanfield’. The report highlights that pupils achieve very well in public examinations and benefit from an "exceptional programme" for personal development, supported by highly skilled leadership.
Strengths
- Pupils’ behaviour is "exemplary", with students conducting themselves with "impressive levels of maturity and self-control".
- The curriculum is "ambitious" and "carefully sequenced", ensuring pupils, including those with SEND, learn important knowledge and skills over time.
- Teachers possess "secure subject knowledge" and use "highly effective resources" to support learning, with lessons beginning with retrieval tasks.
- The school prioritises reading, offering an "effective programme" to help pupils who need extra support to catch up.
- Pastoral care is a strength, with staff who "know families very well" and can respond "quickly and effectively" to concerns.
Areas to improve
- The school should address "inconsistencies in the way the curriculum is implemented" which sometimes prevent pupils from embedding and deepening their learning.
- Leaders must ensure teachers "consistently identify and address any misconceptions" and further develop how pupils discuss new concepts deeply.
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 | 50.9 |
| 2024/25 | 57.5 |
| 2025/26 | 54.4 |
| 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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