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Durham School

Durham School is an independent co-educational school in Durham. Entrance is by the school's own 11+ examinations, usually in English and mathematics, together with an interview.

RegionNorth East
AdmissionsSchool admissions page

The exam

Athena holds admission-route records for Durham School. They are shown by entry cycle below; where the provider changes between cycles, each cycle keeps its own recorded exam.

2027 entry

2028 entry

Free lessons for this exam

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Key dates & preparation

2028 entry

Test: January of Year 6 — the school’s own examination day (a few schools test in November or December of Year 6)

Results: Outcomes follow the school’s published timetable, typically in the spring term of Year 6

Offers: February of Year 6 — the school publishes its offers to its own timetable (London day schools cluster around a mid-February offer point)

When to start preparing: Start preparing in the autumn term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).

General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.

Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28

2027 entry

Test: January of Year 6 — the school’s own examination day (a few schools test in November or December of Year 6)

Results: Outcomes follow the school’s published timetable, typically in the spring term of Year 6

Offers: February of Year 6 — the school publishes its offers to its own timetable (London day schools cluster around a mid-February offer point)

When to start preparing: Start preparing in the autumn term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).

General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.

Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28

Admissions rules

No catchment — open competition

There is no catchment area. Admission is by the school’s own assessment process (examinations and, usually, an interview); the school sets its own oversubscription criteria in its admissions policy — commonly the assessment result first, with sibling or other connections considered at some schools.

Read the school's admissions policy

Results & destinations

2025 results

GCSE: 44.4% of GCSE grades at 7-9; 15.0% of grades at grade 9

School-published

A level: 55.3% of A level grades at A*-B

School-published

Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28

Scholarships & bursaries

Schemes recorded from the school's own published information. A scholarship is a merit award; a bursary is means-tested. Values are shown exactly as the school states them — where a scheme is honorary, its stated value says so.

11+ entry

  • King's Scholarships

    ScholarshipAcademic

    What is assessed: Entrance assessments plus an interview with the Headmaster (as described in the school-supplied ISC summary of this page; the DCSF page confirms the 11+/13+ availability and value)

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 per annum, tenable for the duration of the pupil's education; successful applicants may also apply for up to 50% additional fee remission against the day fee, subject to means testing

    How to apply: Application route not stated on the published pages

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Art Award

    AwardArt

    What is assessed: Limited number of awards in Art at 11+, 13+ and 16+ (discipline-specific expectations form part of the annual review; holders expected to continue the discipline to GCSE)

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; may also be eligible for financial assistance of up to 50% of fees, subject to means testing (remission only for the first award; additional awards are honorary)

    How to apply: Separate application required (applicants may apply for more than one award)

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Design Technology Award

    AwardOther

    What is assessed: Limited number of awards in Design Technology at 11+, 13+ and 16+; holders expected to continue DT to GCSE

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Drama Award

    AwardDrama

    What is assessed: Limited number of awards in Drama at 11+, 13+ and 16+; holders expected to continue Drama to GCSE

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Music Award

    AwardMusic

    What is assessed: Limited number of awards in Music at 11+, 13+ and 16+; holders expected to continue Music to GCSE; Music Scholarships include free tuition on two instruments (voice counts as one)

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year, plus free tuition on two instruments for Music Scholarships; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Sport Award

    AwardSport

    What is assessed: Limited number of awards in Sport at 11+, 13+ and 16+; holders expected to play an active role in the School's games programme and fixture list

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Governors' Bursary

    BursaryOther

    What is assessed: Financial assistance for pupils who have been awarded a scholarship, where there is demonstrated financial need; assessment of parents' financial circumstances via a Confidential Financial Circumstances Form (a scholarship must be held first, per the DCSF page)

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: Up to 50% additional fee remission (as published for King's/other award holders, subject to means testing)

    How to apply: Separate application required (Confidential Financial Circumstances Form from the Finance Office)

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

13+ entry

  • King's Scholarships

    ScholarshipAcademic

    What is assessed: Candidates who perform strongly in the entrance assessments are invited to sit a separate scholarship examination in English and Mathematics, followed by an interview

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 per annum; may also apply for up to 50% additional fee remission against the day fee, subject to means testing

    How to apply: By invitation/nomination (strong entrance-assessment performers invited to the scholarship examination)

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Art Award

    AwardArt

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Design Technology Award

    AwardOther

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Drama Award

    AwardDrama

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Music Award

    AwardMusic

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year, plus free tuition on two instruments for Music Scholarships; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Sport Award

    AwardSport

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Governors' Bursary

    BursaryOther

    What is assessed: As at 11+ (scholarship holders only)

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: Up to 50% additional fee remission, subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

16+ entry

  • Burkitt Scholarships

    ScholarshipAcademic

    What is assessed: Tests in English, Mathematics and Reasoning, plus an interview with a senior member of staff

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: Fixed at £1,000 per year; may be supplemented by means-tested bursaries of up to 50% of School fees; Burkitt Scholars also eligible for up to £1,000 per annum support if they gain entry to Oxford or Cambridge

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Peter Lee Scholarships

    ScholarshipAcademic

    What is assessed: For academically outstanding and musically exceptional pupils of Chinese ancestry: GCSE tariff of six A/A* grades (or equivalent) as a condition, and minimum Grade 7 on principal instrument, preferably at Merit or Distinction

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: Up to 50% funding for the highest-performing candidate; bursary awards of up to 30% of fees may also be offered to high-performing candidates with outstanding examination results

    How to apply: Separate application required (enquiry via the Parent Portal, as published)

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Art Award

    AwardArt

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Design Technology Award

    AwardOther

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Drama Award

    AwardDrama

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Music Award

    AwardMusic

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year, plus free tuition on two instruments for Music Scholarships; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Sport Award

    AwardSport

    What is assessed: As at 11+

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: £1,000 reduction in School fees each year; up to 50% further assistance subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Governors' Bursary

    BursaryOther

    What is assessed: As at 11+ (scholarship holders only; Burkitt awards may be supplemented by means-tested bursaries)

    When: Timing not stated on the published pages

    What it's worth: Up to 50% of School fees, subject to means testing

    How to apply: Separate application required

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

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