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Grammar schools in Durham

There are no grammar schools in Durham.

Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any, and County Durham is not one of them, so every state secondary in Durham admits without a selective test.

The nearest is Ripon Grammar School, about 44.4 miles away in North Yorkshire. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.

Nearest grammar schools to Durham

Straight-line distance from the centre of Durham — not a travel time.

SchoolAreaDistanceIntakeOfsted
Ripon Grammar School Ripon 44.4 miles Mixed Good
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith Penrith 47.9 miles Mixed Good
Ermysted's Grammar School Skipton 59.3 miles Boys Good
Skipton Girls' High School Skipton 59.3 miles Girls Good
Lancaster Royal Grammar School Lancaster 70.4 miles Mixed Good
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Clitheroe 70.7 miles Mixed Outstanding

Published admissions priorities

These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.

Ripon Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children who met the required standard (published source)
  2. Children with exceptional medical or social need (professional evidence required) (published source)
  3. Children of Ripon Grammar School staff (published source)

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (incl. state care outside England) (published source)
  2. Current Family Association: sibling attending the school at time of admission (published source)
  3. Up to 10 places (2 per form group, PAN 160): Pupil Premium/Service Premium students (published source)

Ermysted's Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children who met the required standard (published source)
  2. Applicants within the catchment area who met the required standard (published source)
  3. Applicants outside the catchment area who met the required standard (published source)

Lancaster Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children at/near the minimum level (published source)
  2. Priority catchment area (City of Lancaster), Pupil Premium, at/near minimum level (published source)
  3. Priority catchment area, at/above minimum level (published source)

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry

  1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (published source)
  2. Immediate catchment area residents eligible for Pupil Premium (published source)
  3. Immediate catchment area residents (published source)

Schools in Durham

Durham has 56 open schools. Browse all Durham schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.

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