About the school
Durham School is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls located on two sites, half a mile apart. The senior school, for pupils aged from eleven to eighteen, has three boarding houses.
The preparatory school, Bow, educates pupils aged from three to eleven.
The school is owned and governed by a charitable trust, administered by a board of governors. Since the previous inspection, the trust has agreed to open a sister school overseas.
The school was founded in 1414, moving to its current site in 1844. It became co-educational in 2006. The headmaster was appointed in 2014.
What the school seeks to do
Within a community shaped by moral integrity and kindness, Durham School aims to cultivate responsibility and ambition, to ensure that every Dunelmian can thrive, be happy and make a positive mark in the world.
About the pupils
Pupils come from a variety of economic and ethnic backgrounds, with half of boarders from overseas. Nationally standardised test data indicate that pupils' ability in the preparatory section is broadly
average. In the senior section it is above average, and In Years 12 and 13 broadly average for pupils studying A-levels. Five pupils have an education, health and care plan. The school has identified 84
pupils as having special educational needs and/or disabilities, including dyslexia, 57 of whom receive additional, specialist help. English is an additional language for 70 pupils, whose needs are supported by classroom teachers, with one-third receiving additional support. Data used by the school have identified 84 pupils as being more able. The curriculum is modified for them and for other pupils
because of their talents in sport or music.
Durham School is our senior school for ages 11-18. It is here, among the inspiring school buildings steeped in heritage, that pupils are given the chance to delve deeply into their education.
