Catholic Schools / County Durham
Catholic Schools in County Durham
Find 48 Catholic schools in County Durham. Compare Ofsted ratings, Section 48 results, faith admissions criteria and catchment areas.
48 catholic schools in County Durham
Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington
Crook · Primary · Mixed
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton
Durham · Primary · Mixed
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
Peterlee · Primary · Mixed
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
Darlington · Primary · Mixed
St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston
Durham · Primary · Mixed
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
Bishop Auckland · Primary · Mixed
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street
Chester le Street · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Newton Aycliffe · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor
Stanley · Primary · Mixed
St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont
Belmont · Primary · Mixed
St William's Catholic Primary School
Trimdon Station · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon
Bishop Auckland · Primary · Mixed
All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester
Durham · Primary · Mixed
Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law
Bishop Auckland · Primary · Mixed
Carmel College
Darlington · Secondary · Mixed
Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Darlington · Primary · Mixed
Our Lady and St Joseph Brooms Catholic Primary School, Leadgate
Consett · Primary · Mixed
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School
Peterlee · Primary · Not applicable
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor
Durham · Primary · Mixed
St Bede's Catholic Primary School
Darlington · Primary · Mixed
St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College
Peterlee · Secondary · Mixed
St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester
Durham · Secondary · Mixed
St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston
Chester le Street · Primary · Mixed
St Charles' Catholic Primary School, Tudhoe
Spennymoor · Primary · Mixed
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook
Crook · Primary · Mixed
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham
Seaham · Primary · Mixed
St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham
Durham · Primary · Mixed
St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley
Durham · Primary · Mixed
St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College
Bishop Auckland · Secondary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley
Chester le Street · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
Chester le Street · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall
Hartlepool · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate
Durham · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton
Seaham · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley
Stanley · Primary · Mixed
St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham
Durham · Secondary · Mixed
St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School
SEAHAM · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Blackhill
Consett · Primary · Mixed
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe
Newton Aycliffe · Primary · Mixed
St Marys Catholic Primary School, Wingate
Co Durham · Primary · Mixed
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village
Durham · Primary · Mixed
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Consett
Consett · Primary · Mixed
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton
Stanley · Primary · Mixed
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor
DURHAM · Primary · Mixed
St Pius Xth Catholic Primary School, Consett
Consett · Primary · Mixed
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
Darlington · Primary · Mixed
St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland · Primary · Mixed
About Catholic schools in County Durham
Catholic schools in County Durham are faith schools maintained by the local diocese and funded by the state as voluntary aided or academy schools, meaning they are free to attend. Most give priority to baptised Catholic children when places are oversubscribed, applying faith-based criteria - such as a baptism certificate, evidence of regular Mass attendance, and sometimes a parish priest's reference - before distance or sibling rules come into play. Admissions requirements vary school by school, so it is important to read each school's published policy and any supplementary information form carefully. Some Catholic schools in County Durham are not heavily oversubscribed and may admit children of other faiths or no faith without requiring faith evidence at all.
Catholic schools in County Durham cover primary and secondary phases, with some offering sixth-form provision. As well as the standard Ofsted inspection, each school is subject to a Section 48 (denominational) inspection commissioned by the diocese, which assesses the Catholic ethos, religious education and collective worship - worth reading alongside the Ofsted report. Many parents also weigh pastoral care, the school's links to the local parish and community feel, not just academic results. Ofsted ratings and progress data are a useful starting point, but visiting the school and attending an open day will give you the most rounded picture before you apply.
Choosing a school in County Durham
Whether or not County Durham has schools of a particular type, the same fundamentals help you compare your options. Ofsted judgements - Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate - summarise the quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. A rating is a useful starting point, but bear in mind that some schools have not been inspected for several years and that a single word cannot capture everything about a school.
For secondary schools, Progress 8 is often more revealing than raw results. It measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, so a school serving a less advantaged community can still post strong progress. Attainment 8 shows average achievement across eight GCSEs, and the percentage of pupils reaching grade 5 or above in English and maths is a useful benchmark. For 16-18 study, look at A-Level and applied-course results and where students go next.
Beyond the data, look at how places are allocated when a school is oversubscribed and whether your address is likely to secure one, the range of subjects and activities on offer, the sixth-form provision if you are planning ahead, and travel and transport. Above all, visit. An open day tells you more about a school's atmosphere, pastoral care and whether it will suit your child than any league table can.
Frequently asked questions
How many catholic schools are there in County Durham?
There are 48 catholic schools in County Durham listed on School Signal, of which 11 are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
Which Catholic school in County Durham has the best Ofsted rating?
Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington is among the highest rated catholic schools in County Durham, judged Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection.
Do you have to be Catholic to get into a Catholic school in County Durham?
Not always. When a Catholic school in County Durham is oversubscribed, it will usually prioritise baptised Catholic children and apply faith criteria - such as a baptism certificate and evidence of regular Mass attendance - before admitting children of other faiths or none. Schools that are not oversubscribed may admit non-Catholic children without any faith requirement. Always check each school's admissions policy and supplementary information form, as the criteria vary between schools and dioceses.