Durham School A GSG School
- Durham School
Quarry Heads Lane
Durham
DH1 4SZ - Head: Andrew Pearson - interim Principal
- T 0191 731 9270
- F 01913 831025
- E [email protected]
- W www.dcsf.org.uk
- A mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 11 to 18 with a linked junior school
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: County Durham
- Pupils: 498; sixth formers: 118
- Religion: None
- Fees: Day £20,498 - £22,431; Boarding £37,183 - £50,796 pa (last updated on 12/02/2025)
- Open days: October and March
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Chorister School
What The Good Schools Guide says..
School site is fabulous, a leafy oasis with the feel of an Oxbridge college in the centre of Durham. Drama and music are real strengths - large-scale productions are staged both in school and at the Sage, Gateshead. Pupils said, ‘There are lots of opportunities to perform. One parent of a day pupil said, ‘We only live five minutes' walk away but my son wants to board because there is so much going on and it’s such fun’…
What the school says...
Durham School and Chorister School together make up the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, founded on 600+ years of educational excellence.
The schools offer independent, 3-18, co-educational, day and boarding opportunities at the heart of the university city of Durham.
Academically driven, pastorally strong, values focussed and pupil-centric, our children and young adults thrive in an environment focused on developing confidence for life and respect for all. ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Sports
Rowing
Shooting
What The Good Schools Guide says
Interim principal
Since April 2025, Andrew Pearson, interim principal.
From September 2025, Dr Michael Alderson, currently executive head at Merchant Taylors’ Schools in Liverpool. Born and raised in North Yorkshire, he first came to Durham as an undergraduate at Durham University, where he read modern European languages. He began his teaching career in 2000 after completing a PGCE at the universities of Cambridge and Innsbruck. He also holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in church history of the reformation from Durham.
After serving as head of sixth form at Derby Grammar School, he joined Durham School in 2003, teaching French and German before becoming head of department. As housemaster, he reintroduced boarding, and later, as deputy head (staff), he managed recruitment, compliance and daily operations. He has...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mowden Hall School | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 1 Art and Sport |
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