County Durham school admissions

For a September 2027 start, secondary applications close on 31 Oct 2026 and primary applications on 15 Jan 2027. Always confirm details on the council's own admissions page.

How to apply

Apply online through the council where you live, naming several schools in order of preference — including schools in other council areas. Every preference is considered equally against each school's admission criteria, and you're offered the highest-ranked school that can offer you a place.

We haven't yet confirmed the council's admissions page link.

GOV.UK: School admissions

Key dates for September 2027

Secondary applications close	31 Oct 2026	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Primary (reception) applications close	15 Jan 2027	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Secondary national offer day	1 Mar 2027	1 March or next working day
Primary national offer day	16 Apr 2027	16 April or next working day

Appeals

The council hasn't published a single appeal date we've confirmed. By law you must have at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter.

Source: School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Applications and offers by school, 2026/27

Catchment areas and admission decisions are made by the school's admissions authority (the local council or, for academies and many faith schools, the school or trust). Distances and past figures don't guarantee a place.

Secondary schools (29)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Belmont Community School	185	299	212	180	1.6 per offer
Bishop Barrington Academy	106	307	95	95	2.9 per offer
Consett Academy	254	361	233	233	1.4 per offer
Dene Academy	104	180	101	101	1.7 per offer
Durham Academy	89	117	83	83	1.3 per offer
Durham Johnston Comprehensive School	257	783	328	257	3.0 per offer
Easington Academy	189	340	202	184	1.8 per offer
Ferryhill School	156	243	134	134	1.6 per offer
Framwellgate School Durham	209	564	172	172	2.7 per offer
Greenfield Academy	81	257	72	72	3.2 per offer
Hermitage Academy	154	368	133	133	2.4 per offer
King James I Academy Bishop Auckland	156	423	152	149	2.7 per offer
North Durham Academy	163	256	119	119	1.6 per offer
Park View School	235	498	250	228	2.1 per offer
Parkside Academy	117	215	102	102	1.8 per offer
Seaham High School	195	244	177	177	1.3 per offer
Sedgefield Community College	198	322	201	196	1.6 per offer
St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College	107	267	103	103	2.5 per offer
St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester	221	409	205	205	1.9 per offer
St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College	209	416	210	203	2.0 per offer
St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham	222	538	215	205	2.4 per offer
Staindrop Academy	95	171	94	94	1.8 per offer
Tanfield School	149	406	201	145	2.7 per offer
Teesdale School and Sixth Form	99	133	94	94	1.3 per offer
The Academy at Shotton Hall	271	524	277	266	1.9 per offer
Wellfield School	163	267	152	151	1.6 per offer
Whitworth Park Academy	218	334	219	212	1.5 per offer
Wolsingham School	143	368	181	140	2.6 per offer
Woodham Academy	225	347	240	225	1.5 per offer

Primary schools (201)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Acre Rigg Infant School	40	77	38	38	1.9 per offer
All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester	19	59	19	19	3.1 per offer
Annfield Plain Infant School	27	50	27	27	1.9 per offer
Aycliffe Village Primary and Nursery School	30	65	35	26	2.2 per offer
Beamish Primary School	6	13	6	6	2.2 per offer
Bearpark Primary School	19	33	18	18	1.7 per offer
Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School	23	67	22	22	2.9 per offer
Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School	33	68	32	32	2.1 per offer
Benfieldside Primary School	18	34	17	17	1.9 per offer
Bishop Ian Ramsey CofE Primary School	24	38	24	24	1.6 per offer
Blackhall Primary School	29	40	29	29	1.4 per offer
Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law	7	11	7	7	1.6 per offer
Bloemfontein Primary School	7	22	7	7	3.1 per offer
Bluebell Meadow Primary School	14	28	14	14	2.0 per offer
Bournmoor Primary School	7	15	6	6	2.1 per offer
Bowburn Primary School	68	86	67	67	1.3 per offer
Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School	5	10	5	5	2.0 per offer
Brandon Primary Academy	36	48	36	36	1.3 per offer
Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery School	20	40	20	20	2.0 per offer
Browney Primary Academy	20	52	20	20	2.6 per offer
Bullion Lane Primary School	27	35	27	27	1.3 per offer
Burnhope Primary School	6	7	6	6	1.2 per offer
Burnopfield Primary School	32	48	32	32	1.5 per offer
Butterknowle Primary School	3	6	3	3	2.0 per offer
Byerley Park Primary School	29	78	38	28	2.7 per offer
Byers Green Primary School	10	12	8	8	1.2 per offer
Cassop Primary School	7	28	7	7	4.0 per offer
Castleside Primary School	20	32	23	20	1.6 per offer
Catchgate Primary School	19	31	19	19	1.6 per offer
Cestria Primary School	60	133	60	60	2.2 per offer
Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School	27	44	27	27	1.6 per offer
Chilton Academy	25	29	24	24	1.2 per offer
Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy	27	47	26	26	1.7 per offer
Cockfield Primary School	9	13	9	9	1.4 per offer
Cockton Hill Infant School	37	60	36	36	1.6 per offer
Collierley Nursery and Primary School	18	25	18	18	1.4 per offer
Consett Infant School	52	101	51	51	1.9 per offer
Copeland Road Primary School	11	26	10	10	2.4 per offer
Cotherstone Primary School	11	17	10	10	1.5 per offer
Cotsford Primary School	19	42	18	18	2.2 per offer
Coxhoe Primary School	40	85	39	39	2.1 per offer
Crook Primary School	32	53	31	31	1.7 per offer
Deaf Hill Primary School	12	13	11	11	1.1 per offer
Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School	17	28	16	16	1.6 per offer
Delves Lane Primary School	24	35	24	24	1.5 per offer
Dene House Primary School	32	61	32	32	1.9 per offer
Durham Gilesgate Primary School	24	39	24	24	1.6 per offer
Durham Newton Hall Infants' School	17	63	17	17	3.7 per offer
Easington CofE Primary School	22	56	19	19	2.5 per offer
Easington Colliery Primary School	68	96	67	67	1.4 per offer
East Stanley School	17	42	17	17	2.5 per offer
Ebchester CofE Primary School	10	22	10	10	2.2 per offer
Edmondsley Primary Academy	28	40	28	27	1.4 per offer
Escomb Primary School	17	43	15	15	2.5 per offer
Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School	10	26	10	10	2.6 per offer
Esh Winning Academy	25	29	24	24	1.2 per offer
Etherley Lane Primary School	18	52	17	17	2.9 per offer
Evenwood Church of England Primary School	10	17	10	10	1.7 per offer
Ferryhill Station Primary School	4	10	4	4	2.5 per offer
Finchale Primary School	30	72	29	29	2.4 per offer
Fishburn Primary School	13	22	13	13	1.7 per offer
Framwellgate Moor Primary School	43	110	48	43	2.6 per offer
Frosterley Primary School	5	11	5	5	2.2 per offer
Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool	7	12	7	7	1.7 per offer
Green Lane Church of England Primary School	20	46	13	13	2.3 per offer
Greenland Community Primary School	36	68	35	35	1.9 per offer
Hamsterley Primary School	1	7	1	1	7.0 per offer
Hartside Primary Academy	30	60	31	30	2.0 per offer
Hesleden Primary School	7	9	7	7	1.3 per offer
Howden-le-Wear Primary School	15	28	14	14	1.9 per offer
Howletch Lane Primary School	38	64	38	38	1.7 per offer
Hunwick Primary School	15	31	14	14	2.1 per offer
Hutton Henry CofE (Controlled) Primary School	8	16	8	8	2.0 per offer
Ingleton CofE Primary School	5	12	5	5	2.4 per offer
Kelloe Primary School	13	19	13	13	1.5 per offer
King Street Primary School	27	54	23	23	2.0 per offer
Kirk Merrington Primary School	25	91	36	24	3.6 per offer
Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School	37	62	37	37	1.7 per offer
Langley Moor Primary School	30	61	29	29	2.0 per offer
Langley Park Primary School	18	27	17	17	1.5 per offer
Laurel Avenue Community Primary School	9	16	9	9	1.8 per offer
Leadgate Primary School - Split Site	27	39	27	27	1.4 per offer
Ludworth Primary School	9	12	9	9	1.3 per offer
Lumley Infant and Nursery School	32	46	32	32	1.4 per offer
Middlestone Moor Academy	26	47	23	23	1.8 per offer
Middleton-In-Teesdale Academy	10	15	10	10	1.5 per offer
Montalbo Nursery & Primary School	30	67	42	30	2.2 per offer
Moorside Primary Academy	8	16	8	8	2.0 per offer
Nettlesworth Primary School	13	31	11	11	2.4 per offer
Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery	29	92	27	27	3.2 per offer
New Brancepeth Primary Academy	9	13	9	9	1.4 per offer
New Seaham Academy	22	59	21	21	2.7 per offer
Newker Primary School	22	60	22	21	2.7 per offer
North Park Primary School	17	34	17	17	2.0 per offer
Oakley Cross Primary School and Nursery	16	26	14	14	1.6 per offer
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor	6	19	6	6	3.2 per offer
Our Lady and St Joseph Brooms Catholic Primary School, Leadgate	6	20	6	6	3.3 per offer
Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington	13	27	12	12	2.1 per offer
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton	22	38	21	21	1.7 per offer
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School	18	38	18	18	2.1 per offer
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School	17	28	18	17	1.6 per offer
Ouston Primary School	31	47	31	31	1.5 per offer
Peases West Academy	7	16	7	7	2.3 per offer
Pelton Community Primary School	27	52	27	27	1.9 per offer
Pittington Primary School	22	37	22	22	1.7 per offer
Prince Bishops Community Primary School	28	39	26	26	1.4 per offer
Ramshaw Primary School	6	18	6	6	3.0 per offer
Red Rose Primary School	43	124	43	43	2.9 per offer
Ribbon School	69	84	69	69	1.2 per offer
Ropery Walk Primary School	31	51	31	31	1.6 per offer
Rosa Street Primary and Nursery Academy	30	71	32	28	2.4 per offer
Roseberry Primary and Nursery School	28	41	28	28	1.5 per offer
Sacriston Academy	19	38	19	19	2.0 per offer
Seaham Trinity Primary School	25	49	25	25	2.0 per offer
Seascape Primary School	27	39	27	27	1.4 per offer
Seaview Primary School	20	41	20	20	2.1 per offer
Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy	30	71	30	30	2.4 per offer
Sedgefield Primary School	19	54	17	17	2.8 per offer
Sherburn Primary School	18	26	18	18	1.4 per offer
Shield Row Primary School	28	52	29	28	1.9 per offer
Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School	30	64	27	27	2.1 per offer
Shotley Bridge Primary School	34	74	33	33	2.2 per offer
Shotton Hall Primary School	50	121	61	50	2.4 per offer
Shotton Primary School	31	44	30	30	1.4 per offer
Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery	15	30	15	15	2.0 per offer
South Hetton Primary	22	29	21	21	1.3 per offer
South Stanley Infant and Nursery School	25	51	25	25	2.0 per offer
Springmoor Grange School	51	119	47	47	2.3 per offer
St Andrew's Academy	28	44	24	24	1.6 per offer
St Anne's CofE Primary School	31	68	37	31	2.2 per offer
St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston	7	25	7	7	3.6 per offer
St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston	21	40	21	21	1.9 per offer
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park	5	9	5	5	1.8 per offer
St Charles' Catholic Primary School, Tudhoe	30	52	34	30	1.7 per offer
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street	27	53	26	26	2.0 per offer
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook	9	25	9	9	2.8 per offer
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham	23	62	23	23	2.7 per offer
St Francis Horndale CofE Primary School	8	20	8	8	2.5 per offer
St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham	21	52	21	21	2.5 per offer
St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley	12	27	13	12	2.3 per offer
St Helen Auckland Community Primary School	30	39	31	30	1.3 per offer
St Hild's College Church of England Primary School, Durham	24	39	24	24	1.6 per offer
St John's Chapel Primary School	3	4	3	3	1.3 per offer
St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon	27	51	26	26	1.9 per offer
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School	20	36	20	20	1.8 per offer
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall	12	28	13	12	2.3 per offer
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon	11	15	10	10	1.4 per offer
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate	6	14	6	6	2.3 per offer
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton	7	25	7	7	3.6 per offer
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley	14	34	14	14	2.4 per offer
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School	56	125	54	54	2.2 per offer
St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School	28	61	28	28	2.2 per offer
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle	14	43	11	11	3.1 per offer
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Blackhill	26	55	26	26	2.1 per offer
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe	12	35	12	12	2.9 per offer
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor	15	28	15	15	1.9 per offer
St Marys Catholic Primary School, Wingate	8	21	8	8	2.6 per offer
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village	23	36	23	23	1.6 per offer
St Michael's Church of England Primary School	15	33	15	15	2.2 per offer
St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School	20	92	27	20	4.6 per offer
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Consett	39	71	39	39	1.8 per offer
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton	14	21	14	14	1.5 per offer
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor	7	21	7	7	3.0 per offer
St Pius Xth Catholic Primary School, Consett	5	22	5	5	4.4 per offer
St Stephen's Church of England Primary School	21	33	21	21	1.6 per offer
St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont	14	26	14	14	1.9 per offer
St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland	30	49	35	30	1.6 per offer
St William's Catholic Primary School	15	21	16	15	1.4 per offer
Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School	29	46	29	29	1.6 per offer
Stanhope Barrington CofE Primary School	6	8	6	6	1.3 per offer
Stanley (Crook) Primary School	19	37	22	19	1.9 per offer
Stanley Burnside Primary School	19	22	19	19	1.2 per offer
Stephenson Way Academy and Nursery School	27	51	26	26	1.9 per offer
Sugar Hill Primary School	44	98	39	39	2.2 per offer
Sunnybrow Primary School	14	25	14	14	1.8 per offer
Tanfield Lea Community Primary School	34	57	34	34	1.7 per offer
The Grove Primary School	16	25	16	16	1.6 per offer
Thornhill Primary School	30	67	32	30	2.2 per offer
Thornley Academy	13	23	13	13	1.8 per offer
Timothy Hackworth Primary School	34	55	33	33	1.6 per offer
Toft Hill Primary School	29	67	30	28	2.3 per offer
Tow Law Millennium Primary School	8	12	8	8	1.5 per offer
Tudhoe Colliery Primary School	30	77	30	28	2.6 per offer
Vane Road Primary School	60	128	56	53	2.1 per offer
Victoria Lane Academy	21	26	20	20	1.2 per offer
Wearhead Primary School	0	2	0	0	Not published
West Cornforth Primary School	23	35	23	23	1.5 per offer
West Pelton Primary School	3	8	3	3	2.7 per offer
West Rainton Primary School	16	22	15	15	1.4 per offer
Westlea Primary School	33	48	33	33	1.5 per offer
Wheatley Hill Community Primary School	41	63	41	41	1.5 per offer
Willington Primary School	15	27	14	14	1.8 per offer
Wingate Primary School	37	49	36	36	1.3 per offer
Witton Gilbert Primary School	30	63	34	30	2.1 per offer
Witton-le-Wear Primary School	15	35	17	15	2.3 per offer
Wolsingham Primary School	21	29	21	21	1.4 per offer
Woodham Burn Community Primary School and Nursery	21	33	20	20	1.6 per offer
Woodhouse Primary Academy	16	26	14	14	1.6 per offer
Woodland Primary School	5	6	5	5	1.2 per offer
Woodlea Primary School	25	53	24	24	2.1 per offer
Yohden Primary School	24	51	22	22	2.1 per offer

Source: DfE secondary and primary school applications and offers (Open Government Licence v3.0).

County Durham term dates · Check schools near a postcode

Questions

When is the County Durham secondary school application deadline?

31 October for a September start, set nationally by the School Admissions Code. Late applications are usually considered only after on-time ones.

How long do I have to appeal?

Admission authorities must give you at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter (usually offer day). Many councils publish a specific date — use the council's date where shown.

Does this page tell me my chance of getting a place?

No. Places depend on each school's oversubscription criteria, which change every year. Only the admissions authority decides.