Dene Academy, Peterlee

In 2026, pupils at Dene Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in County Durham and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in County Durham and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 41.4.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.33: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 37, against 47.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Art and Design, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 101 families put Dene Academy as their first choice and 180 named it as one of their preferences, for 104 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Dene Academy are St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College (1.2 miles, Attainment 8 42.1); The Academy at Shotton Hall (1.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55); Easington Academy (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51); and Wellfield School (3 miles, Attainment 8 47.3).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Dene Academy.

Dene Academy is one of 23 schools run by Advance Learning Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.3 in 2024/25.

Of the 130 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 79% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

62.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 157 pupils (24.6%) received SEN support and 35 (5.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Dene Academy had 49 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Horden, about 920 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Yoden Way (sw-bound), 210 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 318 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Dene Academy issued 162 suspensions, 25.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Dene Academy are Dene House Primary School (under 0.1 miles), Cotsford Primary School (0.4 miles), Yohden Primary School (0.4 miles) and Seascape Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.