Ofsted: Good emoji_events #28 in County Durham public Top 39% UK

UTC South Durham

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Tom Dower

corporate_fareTHE DURHAM UTC LIMITED

location_onNewton Aycliffe, DL5 6AP

language Visit Website phone 1325430250

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Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

429

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Attainment 8

39.2

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GCSE Rank

#28 in County Durham

#2,648 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

UTC South Durham is a University technical college secondary school in Newton Aycliffe, serving ages 14-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

UTC South Durham is an university technical college in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, admitting pupils aged 14-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE DURHAM UTC LIMITED. The school has approximately 450 pupils on roll, of whom 35% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 39.2, placing the school #28 in County Durham and #2,648 of 3,216 nationally. 29.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 6.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 6 A-level subjects. 47.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 17.4% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.49 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

39.2

Grade 5+ E&M

29.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)6.4%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS2.88

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.99

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS2.59

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.20

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.53

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.51

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.71

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc1%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.82

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.05

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc1%

EBacc APS2.81

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment14%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships13%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships14%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.49

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils do significantly better than expected at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.3%

Achieving A*–A17.4%

Achieving A*–B47.8%

VA Banding Well above average

Retention rate60.0%

A-level subjects offered6

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.2

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate77.80%

2023

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Retention rate87.50%

2022

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate100.0%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

05 March 2024

Inspection Report

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09 January 2019

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2024-03-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-01-09

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.8%(8 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 450 pupils. During this period, there were 10 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.2%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	450	10	2.2%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	458	10	2.2%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	415	8	1.9%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	419	1	0.2%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	426	4	0.9%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	420	7	1.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	429	7	1.6%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	437	10	2.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	404	4	1.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	408	8	2.0%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	418	7	1.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	360	8	2.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	367	3	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	368	7	1.9%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	314	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	314	8	2.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	326	8	2.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	326	13	4.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	341	16	4.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	356	15	4.2%	3.8%	2
2017/18 (Summer term)	305	15	4.9%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	311	24	7.7%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	309	30	9.7%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	137	14	10.2%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	137	12	8.8%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	146	19	13.0%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 34 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 30 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

15.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree71%

agree19%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree59%

agree30%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree38%

agree16%

disagree2%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

not applicable37%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes38%

no62%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree59%

agree24%

disagree9%

dont know9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree63%

agree28%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree33%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree57%

agree33%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree64%

agree29%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree29%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know12%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree66%

agree23%

disagree3%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes93%

no7%

Top Secondary Schools in County Durham

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

Requires improvement

location_on Durham, DH1 4NG

emoji_events #1 in LA

Tanfield School

Inadequate

location_on Stanley, DH9 8AY

emoji_events #2 in LA

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Outstanding

location_on Durham, DH1 4SU

emoji_events #3 in LA

Belmont Community School

Good

location_on Durham, DH1 2AG

emoji_events #4 in LA

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Outstanding

location_on Peterlee, SR8 1AU

emoji_events #5 in LA

Easington Academy

Good

location_on Peterlee, SR8 3AY

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in County Durham arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in County Durham

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

Tanfield School

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Belmont Community School

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Easington Academy