Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #1 in County Durham public Top 6% UK

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

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

personMr Christopher Hammill

corporate_fareBISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST

location_onDurham, DH1 4NG

language Visit Website phone 1913848575

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,408

trending_up

Attainment 8

57.7

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GCSE Rank

#1 in County Durham

#333 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham is a Academy converter secondary school in Durham, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham is an academy converter in Durham, County Durham, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 1,260 pupils on roll, of whom 14% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 57.7, placing the school #1 in County Durham and #333 of 3,216 nationally. 59.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 38.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 24 A-level subjects. 62.9% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 35.6% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.22 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 2.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

57.7

Grade 5+ E&M

59.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)38.9%

Entering EBacc36.40%

EBacc APS5.01

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23.40%

EBacc APS4.81

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.65

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

59.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc35%

EBacc APS5.11

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.48

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

58.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS5.05

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc81%

EBacc APS4.66

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc87%

EBacc APS4.83

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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

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

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

-0.22

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*14.4%

Achieving A*–A35.6%

Achieving A*–B62.9%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate94.9%

A-level subjects offered24

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.07

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate94.90%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate88.40%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate97.8%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 October 2024

Inspection Report

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17 January 2023

Inspection Report

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18 January 2022

Inspection Report

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09 October 2019

Inspection Report

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10 November 2016

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-10-08

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2022-01-18

S8 No Formal Designation Visit EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-05-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2007-02-13

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

2.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.7%(22 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,260 pupils. During this period, there were 35 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.8%, 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)	1,260	35	2.8%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,264	36	2.8%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,345	45	3.3%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,361	23	1.7%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,379	33	2.4%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,408	45	3.2%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,408	21	1.5%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,410	10	0.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,397	25	1.8%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,401	51	3.6%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,407	84	6.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,383	60	4.3%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,386	20	1.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,392	57	4.1%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,358	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,358	36	2.7%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,358	58	4.3%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,378	13	0.9%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,390	27	1.9%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,394	14	1.0%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,376	12	0.9%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,386	13	0.9%	3.0%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,390	31	2.2%	3.7%	1

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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 30 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 28 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 21 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

Hearing 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.

86.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

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

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree53%

agree37%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree43%

agree36%

disagree15%

strongly disagree5%

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

strongly agree31%

agree20%

disagree9%

strongly disagree12%

not applicable28%

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

yes23%

no77%

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

strongly agree26%

agree21%

disagree23%

strongly disagree26%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree63%

agree24%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree31%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree43%

agree35%

disagree16%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree50%

agree41%

disagree7%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree61%

agree33%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree50%

agree30%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes84%

no16%

Top Secondary Schools in County Durham

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

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

Sedgefield Community College

Outstanding

location_on Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3DD

emoji_events #7 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

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

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.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in County Durham

Tanfield School

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Belmont Community School

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Easington Academy

Sedgefield Community College