Durham Academy is a mainstream secondary school with resourced provision in Durham, County Durham, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. Its specialist base has 14 places for specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia), visual impairment, speech, language and communication and autism.
- Ages 11–16
- 405 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
School details
- Type
- Mainstream school with resourced provision
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Specialist base
- Resourced provision, 14 places, 1 pupils
- Pupils
- 405
- Headteacher
- Ms Alison Jobling (Headteacher)
- Part of
- Advance Learning Partnership
- Council
- County Durham
- School reference (URN)
- 149251
Needs its base supports
7 needs: dyslexia and SpLD, vision and 5 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Autism Other schools for this in County Durham (11)
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in County Durham (7)
Cognition and learning
- Specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) Other schools for this in County Durham (5)
- Moderate learning difficulty Other schools for this in County Durham (7)
Social, emotional and mental health
- Social, emotional and mental health Other schools for this in County Durham (5)
Sensory and physical
- Visual impairment Other schools for this in County Durham (2)
- Physical disability Other schools for this in County Durham (1)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision are usually for children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask about the base
See the school and its specialist base, and ask how children split their time between the base and mainstream classes.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often County Durham council) that you want this school and its base, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school, so ask how they decide.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Report card, January 2026: Expected standard in 3 of 6 areas
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Bracken Court, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7NG
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Durham Trinity School & Sports College Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
- Durham Gilesgate Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.6 miles
- Belmont Community School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 4.5 miles
All SEND schools in County Durham
By need in County Durham: Autism (12) · Speech and language (8) · Moderate learning (8) · Severe learning (7) · SEMH (6) · Dyslexia and SpLD (6) · PMLD (5) · Hearing (4) · Vision (3) · Physical (2)
Questions about Durham Academy
How do I get a place in Durham Academy’s specialist base?
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult the school about its base. If the school is named in the plan it must admit your child; places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school.
What needs does Durham Academy support?
Specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia), visual impairment, speech, language and communication, autism, social, emotional and mental health, physical disability and moderate learning difficulty. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Durham Academy take?
Aged 11 to 16, boys and girls.
What is Durham Academy’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in January 2026 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is Durham Academy?
Bracken Court, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7NG, in County Durham.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.