GCSE 2025/26
#2,478 of 3,312
Worse than 74% of schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 22 Nov 2023
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 147122.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 41.2, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 44.9 | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 51.9%, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 62.5% | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 32.7%, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 43% | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 6.7%, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 11.7% | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 48.1%, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 58.5% | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 104 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 638 |
| Girls | 298 |
| Boys | 340 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 62.5% |
| First language not English | 5% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 1,077 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 40.8% |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 157 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 35 |
| Average class size | 19.9 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 13.9 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 9.5 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 46.01 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 14.22 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 39.56 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 45 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 42.4 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 1 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 1.6 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 104 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 180 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 101 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 101 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 0 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 9.9%, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 8.2% | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 32.6%, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 23.1% | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 5%, worse than England, worse than County Durham | 3.6% | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 25.3% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 8.4% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 1.1% |
| Permanent exclusions | 7 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 86.2% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 83.8% |
| Further education | 78.5% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 10% |
| School sixth form | 3.8% |
| Employment | 1.5% |
| Sixth form college | 0.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 0.8% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 mi | Primary | Dene House Primary School | Academy sponsor led | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 14 Jul 2026. | |
| 0.4 mi | Primary | Cotsford Primary School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 19 Mar 2024. | |
| 0.4 mi | Primary | Yohden Primary School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 8 Nov 2023. | |
| 0.5 mi | Nursery | Horden Nursery School | Local authority nursery school | Outstanding Ofsted rating. Inspected 18 Mar 2015. | |
| 0.5 mi | Primary | Seascape Primary School | Community school | Inadequate Area360 rating. Inspected 13 Jan 2026. | |
| 1.0 mi | Primary | Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 25 Apr 2023. | |
| 1.0 mi | Primary | Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School | Academy sponsor led | Inadequate Area360 rating. Inspected 12 Nov 2024. | |
| 1.1 mi | Not applicable | Open Air Education | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 1.2 mi | Secondary | St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 8 Feb 2017. | |
| 1.2 mi | Primary | Blackhall Primary School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 7 Mar 2023. |
Dene Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 22 Nov 2023.
Dene Academy ranks 2,478 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 74% of schools).
In 2025/26, 32.7% of pupils at Dene Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 41.2 (England 46.2).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Dene Academy made 104 offers from 180 applications (1.7 per offer), and 101 of 101 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Dene Academy has 638 pupils aged 11 to 16.
Dene Academy had 1,077 school places in 2024/25.
No, Dene Academy teaches pupils up to age 16.
At Dene Academy, the average class had 19.9 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 13.9 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Dene Academy missed 9.9% of sessions (England 8%), and 32.6% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.