Further education

New College Durham

Mixed · ages 16–99 · with sixth formCounty Durham, North East · Durham DH1 5ESSchool website
Pupils on roll
Free school meals
Year 11 cohort 2025
Ofsted
Not covered by Ofsted school inspections
What the data says

New College Durham is a 16–19 provider, so there is no Year 11 cohort: this page covers where its students went after 16–18 study and what they achieved.

Among the 1,233 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 16% went to university (County Durham 32%, England 37%), and 2% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally; 14% started an apprenticeship, well above the 7% England average.

A level grades average D+, well below the England average of B-; 0% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Sociology, Law and English Literature.

Where pupils went after Year 11

Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in County Durham and England.

The Department for Education has not published destination figures for this school (new school, small cohort or not a state-funded school).

Where students went after sixth form

Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.

New College Durham
County Durham
England
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
MeasureNew College DurhamCounty DurhamEngland
Students in the cohort1,2334,586541,441
Any sustained destination70%76%79%
University (higher education)16%32%37%
— most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students2%18%19%
Further education6%5%5%
Apprenticeship14%11%7%
Employment35%28%28%
No sustained destination26%20%16%

GCSE results 2025

No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.

A levels and other level 3 courses

MeasureNew College DurhamCounty DurhamEngland
Students at the end of 16–18 study3,260
— of whom A level students1571,658261,341
Average A level gradeD+B-B-
Average points per A level entry24.4235.7035.00
Average grade, best 3 A levelsCB-B-
AAB or better with two facilitating subjects0%19%18%
Average grade, applied general courses
Average grade, T levels

A level subjects

Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.

SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Sociology2617%13%
Law2214%4%
English Literature1610%11%
Classical Civilisation138%1%
History117%13%
Psychology117%23%
English Language106%4%
Biology85%20%
Film Studies74%2%
Politics64%6%
Religious Studies64%4%
Fine Art3%
Business Studies13%
Chemistry17%
Geography10%
Mathematics31%
Physical Education3%
Physics12%

Applied, technical and other level 3 courses

SubjectQualificationEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Social ScienceVRQ Level 36642%
SociologyGCE AS level (All)5032%
Plumbing (Building Work)VRQ Level 24730%
LawGCE AS level (All)4629%
Electrical installation (Buildings / Construction)VRQ Level 23522%
SociologyGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)2516%
Study SkillsExtended Project (Diploma)2415%
PsychologyGCE AS level (All)2415%
LawGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)2415%
English LiteratureGCE AS level (All)2214%
Plumbing (Building Work)VRQ Level 32113%
Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined)BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D*2013%
Computer Architecture / SystemsBTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D*1912%
Classical CivilisationGCE AS level (All)1912%
BiologyGCE AS level (All)1811%
HistoryGCE AS level (All)1811%
Business StudiesBTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D*1711%
English LanguageGCE AS level (All)1610%
MathematicsGCE AS level (All)1610%
Business StudiesBTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D*1610%
Computing and IT Advanced TechnicianBTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D*149%
PsychologyGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)138%
Electrical installation (Buildings / Construction)Other General Qualification at Level 3138%
MathematicsGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)128%
Childcare SkillsVRQ Level 3117%
Business StudiesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*117%
BiologyGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)106%
GeographyGCE AS level (All)106%
PoliticsGCE AS level (All)106%
ChemistryGCE AS level (All)96%
Religious StudiesGCE AS level (All)96%
Film StudiesGCE AS level (All)96%
Applied SciencesBTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D)85%
Fine ArtGCE AS level (All)85%
Business StudiesGCE AS level (All)74%
HistoryGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)74%
ChemistryGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)74%
PhysicsGCE AS level (All)74%
GeographyGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)64%
Classical CivilisationGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)64%
English LanguageGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)64%
Business StudiesBTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D*64%
English LiteratureGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)64%
Physical EducationGCE AS level (All)
Law / Legal StudiesBTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D)
PsychologyBTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D)
Applied SciencesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*
Art and DesignBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*
Computer Architecture / SystemsBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*
Health StudiesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*
Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined)BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D*
Fine ArtGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)
Business StudiesGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)
Film StudiesGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)
PoliticsGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)
PhysicsGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)
Religious StudiesGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)
Business StudiesOCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3
Animal Husbandry: Specific AnimalsVRQ Level 3

Other secondary schools in County Durham

Consett Academy

Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,493 pupils

86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 44.2

Dene Academy

Academy converter · 638 pupils

78% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.4

Durham Academy

Academy converter · 405 pupils

67% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.4

Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.