UTC South Durham
Newton Aycliffe, DL5 6AP · County Durham · secondary school
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29th of 30 secondary schools in County Durham we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.2/10 against 600 of them, against 0.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 17.5 · 2 | 30% | 0.06 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.99 · 3 | 25% | 0.07 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 33.4 · 4 | 10% | 0.04 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
UTC South Durham overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2024-04. In 2024/25, 29.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.99 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
T Level students visit Tees Cottage and attend EMCON 2024, while GCSE students take part in Durham University’s Celebrate Science Festival.
Getting in
The published school roll is 421 pupils against a stated capacity of 600. 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 attainment gap with the national median? What specific support is available for T Level students preparing for industry placements? How does the school ensure consistent progress for students across all subject areas?
What Ofsted said about UTC South Durham
Overview
UTC South Durham is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories. The report highlights a ‘professional and productive atmosphere’ where pupils are well-prepared for careers, particularly in engineering and STEM subjects. Leaders are committed to ensuring pupils are ‘career and life ready’, resulting in strong destinations and high levels of pupil confidence.
Strengths
- Pupils are ‘confident and articulate’, progressing to ‘strong destinations’ including high-level apprenticeships.
- The curriculum is ‘organised logically’, allowing pupils to build on prior knowledge with a strong focus on STEM.
- Behaviour is excellent; pupils ‘treat each other and staff with respect’ and bullying is ‘not an issue’.
- Staff are ‘proud to work at the UTC’ and committed to its vision, supported by strong employer partnerships.
- The school provides a ‘transformative experience’ for pupils who have previously disengaged with education.
Areas to improve
- Assessment systems are not always used effectively, meaning ‘gaps in pupils’ learning are sometimes missed’.
- Teaching is not always adapted sufficiently for all pupils, including those with SEND, to ensure they ‘make strong progress’.
- Quality assurance systems lack sufficient ‘precision or rigour’, limiting the focus of improvement plans.
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 | 36.1 |
| 2024/25 | 39.2 |
| 2025/26 | 33.4 |
| 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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