UTC South Durham, Newton Aycliffe

In its own words: "We’re at the forefront of technical education in the North East of England for GCSE and Sixth Form students. Since 2016 we’ve helped hundreds of young people from County Durham get started on their dream STEM careers. A University Technical College (UTC) is a government funded school that bridges the gap between education and the world of work ."

From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to University Technical College South Durham, a state-funded, purpose-built Sixth Form and school for 14-19 year olds. We opened in September 2016 and have become established in the region as the place to be for technical education."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at UTC South Durham averaged an Attainment 8 score of 33.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in County Durham and 47 across England.

18% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in County Durham and 47% in England.

That is down from 39.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.99: pupils made well below 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 32.5, against 33.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 1.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 14 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Engineering Studies, Combined Science and Design and Technology.

Across County Durham, 94% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in County Durham lodged 106 appeals against secondary school offers; 66 reached a hearing and 15 succeeded (22.7% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to UTC South Durham are Greenfield Academy (1.9 miles, Attainment 8 37.7); Woodham Academy (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.5); Longfield Academy (3.4 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 39.8); and Wyvern Academy (4.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.3).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than UTC South Durham.

UTC South Durham is run by its own single-school academy trust.

49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about UTC South Durham (as of April 2026): 96% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (90%).

Of the 121 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

Of the 68 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 22% went on to university or other higher education, 25% to apprenticeships and 27% into work. 3% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 80 pupils (19%) received SEN support and 9 (2.1%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Heighington Rail Station, about 290 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is UTC Stagecoach only (n-bound), 230 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 12 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).

In 2024/25, UTC South Durham issued 29 suspensions, 6.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to UTC South Durham are Aycliffe Village Primary and Nursery School (0.7 miles), Sugar Hill Primary School (1.5 miles), Stephenson Way Academy and Nursery School (1.7 miles) and Heighington Church of England Primary School (1.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.