Best 3 Secondary schools in County Durham – comparison

Q: How are these comparisons built?

We align public datasets side-by-side. Headline Ofsted judgement and publication date are shown when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; free users see rounded values.

Q: What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded Section 8 visits do not replace the last graded judgement. We continue to show the latest graded judgement until a new graded inspection is published.

Q: Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are Pro features. Everyone can still compare approximate values.

Q: How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then consider distance and travel, roll versus capacity, and the admissions policy. Visit the school, ask about pastoral support and enrichment, and ensure it fits your child’s needs.

Q: What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; review capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and look at trust or local authority governance. Read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding details.

Comparison of secondary schools: The Academy at Shotton Hall (Secondary) in Peterlee; Teesdale School and Sixth Form (Secondary) in Barnard Castle; Sedgefield Community College (Secondary) in Stockton-on-Tees — covering Ofsted outcomes, size, FSM%, governance, capacity & more.

At a glance

This page compares The Academy at Shotton Hall, Teesdale School and Sixth Form and Sedgefield Community College. They are secondary phase and academy converter and academy sponsor led type located around Peterlee, County Durham, Barnard Castle and Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. The strongest headline Ofsted judgement here is 1 (The Academy at Shotton Hall), published Sep 2024. The most recent inspection on record is for The Academy at Shotton Hall (Sep 2024). average roll around ≈ 950, combined total ≈ 2,850, typical FSM 25–30%, range 15–20%–30–35%; spread across trusts such as North East Learning Trust and THE LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST.

🔒 Export (Pro)

Attribute	The Academy at Shotton Hall SR8 1AU	Teesdale School and Sixth Form DL12 8HH	Sedgefield Community College TS21 3DD
Phase / Type	Secondary • Academy converter	Secondary • Academy sponsor led	Secondary • Academy converter
Location	Peterlee County Durham SR8 1AU	Barnard Castle DL12 8HH	Stockton-on-Tees County Durham TS21 3DD
Latest Ofsted	1 9 Sep 2024	1 9 Jul 2019	1 6 Apr 2017
Ofsted report	—	—	—
Pupils (roll)	≈ 1,150 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 700 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 1,000 🔒 Unlock exact pupils
FSM %	30–35% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	15–20% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	20–25% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %
Capacity	1150	968	975
Capacity utilisation	Near capacity 🔒 View exact %	Under capacity 🔒 View exact %	Near capacity 🔒 View exact %
Age range	—	—	—
Gender	Mixed	Mixed	Mixed
Admissions policy	Non-selective		Non-selective
Trust / Local authority	North East Learning Trust	North East Learning Trust	THE LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST
Website	www.shottonhallacademy.co.uk	www.teesdaleschool.co.uk	www.sedgefieldcommunitycollege.co.uk
Telephone	01915180222	01833638166	01740617777
SEN provision	None reported	None reported	None reported
Profile	View profile	View profile	View profile

The Academy at Shotton Hall

SR8 1AU

Phase / Type: Secondary • Academy converter
Location: Peterlee
County Durham
SR8 1AU
Ofsted: 1 9 Sep 2024
Pupils: ≈ 1,150 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 30–35% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: North East Learning Trust
Website: www.shottonhallacademy.co.uk
Telephone: 01915180222

Teesdale School and Sixth Form

DL12 8HH

Phase / Type: Secondary • Academy sponsor led
Location: Barnard Castle
DL12 8HH
Ofsted: 1 9 Jul 2019
Pupils: ≈ 700 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 15–20% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: North East Learning Trust
Website: www.teesdaleschool.co.uk
Telephone: 01833638166

Sedgefield Community College

TS21 3DD

Phase / Type: Secondary • Academy converter
Location: Stockton-on-Tees
County Durham
TS21 3DD
Ofsted: 1 6 Apr 2017
Pupils: ≈ 1,000 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 20–25% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: THE LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST
Website: www.sedgefieldcommunitycollege.co.uk
Telephone: 01740617777

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Map of compared schools

How are these comparisons built?

We line up public school data side-by-side. Ofsted “headline” judgement is shown with the publication date when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; everyone sees rounded values.

What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded visits (Section 8) check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but do not replace it. We keep the latest graded judgement as the headline until a new graded inspection is published.

Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, we show approximate pupils and bucketed FSM% to free users. Upgrade to AllSchools Pro to unlock precise figures and exports.

How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then check whether it aligns with your child’s needs. Look at distance and travel, typical class sizes (roll vs capacity), and the school’s admissions policy. Speak to the school, arrange a visit, and ask about pastoral support and enrichment.

What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; scan capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and review trust/local authority for governance. If available, read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding detail.