Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

A outstanding community school school in County Durham. Explore Ofsted ratings, admissions information, and performance data for Durham Johnston Comprehensive School.

Durham, DH14SU Ofsted: Outstanding Age 11-18 Mixed intake
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Performance Score

Overall school rating

56

/ 100

Secondary with Sixth Form weighted harmonic mean of 5 indicators

Indicators used for Secondary with Sixth Form schools

Progress 8 score
58.3
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 0.18
English & Maths grade 4+ %
65.4
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 80.3%
Continue in education or training
70.8
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 76.0%
Sustained employment
30.8
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: 12.0%
Ofsted inspection outcome
100.0
/ 100 normalized
Weight: 20.0%
Raw: Outstanding

How we weight each phase

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Primary schools

  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 40.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Secondary schools

  • Progress 8 score 40.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

All-through schools

  • Progress 8 score 25.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 15.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Secondary with Sixth Form schools

  • Progress 8 score 20.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • Continue in education or training 20.0%
  • Sustained employment 20.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Sixth Form Only schools

  • Continue in education or training 40.0%
  • Sustained employment 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Special schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Alternative Provision schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Independent schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Ofsted Inspection

Official inspection outcomes

Outstanding
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Last inspected
11 February 2015
Previous grade
Outstanding
Quality of education
9
Behaviour & attitudes
9
Personal development
9
Leadership & management
Outstanding
Safeguarding
9

Source: Ofsted inspection outcomes. Grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate.

Contact Information

How to reach this school

Source: GIAS
Address
Crossgate Moor
Durham, DH14SU
Phone
1913843887
Website
durhamjohnston.org.uk

Location

Find the school on the map

Source: Geocoding
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School Information

Basic details and characteristics

Source: GIAS
URN
114312
Type
Community school
Phase
Secondary with Sixth Form
Address
Crossgate Moor, Durham, DH1 4SU
Website
www.durhamjohnston.org.uk
Age range
11-18
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Does not apply
School status
Open
Capacity
1,700 pupils
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Sixth Form
Yes
Nursery
No

School Performance Data

Official government statistics

Source: DfE

School Demographics

Total Pupils
1,689
Free School Meals
14.9% (252 pupils)
Special Educational Needs
1.4% (24 pupils)

Daily Attendance

Attendance Rate
93.2%
Good
Persistent Absence
16.2%
Missing 10%+ of school days

Real Success Rates

What happens to students after they leave this school

Continue Education
76.0%
University, college, or sixth form
Enter Employment
12.0%
Full or part-time jobs
Start Apprenticeships
5.0%
Learning while earning
Not in Education or Work
5.0%
NEET - needs support

Sixth Form University Progression

Where sixth form students go after graduation

University Progression
72%
Quality: Very Good
Sixth Form Size
197 students
Per cohort
Apprenticeships
5.0%

Key Performance Indicators

English & Maths Grade 5+:
80.3 (+28.3 vs average)
Education Continuation:
76.0 (+19.9 vs average)
Attainment 8:
56.7 (+17.2 vs average)
Progress 8:
0.18 (+0.4 vs average)

Calculated Fields

Derived insights and analysis

Source: Calculated

Class Size Information

Average Class Size
106 pupils
Large Classes
Pupils per Year Group
211
Average across all year groups
Total School Size
1,689 pupils
11-18

Subjects This School Excels At

Subjects where students perform significantly above national average

Chemistry (GCE AS level (Not continued to A2))
★★★★ ★
(10 students)
Mathematics (GCE AS level (Not continued to A2))
★★★★ ★
(10 students)
Mathematics (Further) (GCE A level)
★★★★ ★
(16 students)
Art & Design (Fine Art) (GCE A level)
★★★★ ★
(12 students)
Biology (GCE AS level (Not continued to A2))
★★★★ ★
(6 students)

Strong performance in 5 subjects

From the School Website

Information extracted from the school's own website

Source: School Website

Ethos & Values

"Sapere Aude"

Academic Excellence Acquiring Knowledge Social Justice Public Service Diverse Opportunities

Head Teacher's Message

The Headteacher welcomes you to a happy and thriving school in the heart of Durham City. The message emphasizes a comprehensive, inclusive education with a strong commitment to social justice and equality of opportunity, a broad curriculum, and a diverse range of extracurricular opportunities.

Extracurriculars

Clubs

Board Games Club Chamber Choir Film Society Sixth Form Society Geography Society Literature Society MedSoc Physics Society Quiet Club Vex V5 & IQ Robotics Chess Club GCSE Business Support & Homework GCSE Maths Support Jazz Club Law Society Japanese Club Junior Orchestra Senior Orchestra Wind Band Architecture & Engineering Society Engineering Society Ethics & Philosophy Society Biology Society Computing Society History Society Politics Society Sustainable Finance Society Debating Society Drama Club Sparx Maths support club

Sports

Badminton Cross Country Rugby Football Netball Basketball

Curriculum Highlights

Key Stage 3 is taught over three years with a total time allocation of 25 hours per year per subject. Languages at Key Stage 3 include Year 7 French (two hours per week) plus a carousel with German/Latin/Spanish; students then choose two languages to continue in Years 8–9. At the end of Year 9, students select three option subjects, including at least one Ebacc subject (Computing, Geography, History, French, German, Latin, Spanish). Key Stage 4 and 5 offer a broad range of GCSEs and A Levels, with a dedicated “What’s Next? (Preparation for Higher Education)” course for all students. Quality assurance and curriculum reviews ensure a rigorous and well-sequenced curriculum across departments.

Admissions Criteria

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School is Local Authority Maintained; Admissions are controlled by Durham County Council. Published Admission Numbers (PAN) for Year 7 are 270 students for 2026/27 and 265 for 2025/26. Applications must be made through Durham County Council using their School Places and Admissions Website. In oversubscription, the criteria can be read at the linked page. The school holds an open evening in September for families interested in applying for a Year 7 place. In-year admissions are managed by the council. For information about Sixth Form admissions, please visit the relevant area of our website.

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