St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

The school was established in 1936 as the St Leonard's Catholic Central School in the former Springwell Hall, a coalmine owner's house acquired in 1935 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.^[2]

During the era of the tripartite system, the school became a secondary modern and turned comprehensive in 1970 when the system was abolished by the LEA. The sixth form was opened that same year.

Previously a voluntary aided school administered by Durham County Council, in November 2016 St Leonard's Catholic School converted to academy status. The school is now a part of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust.

In December 2025 the school was awarded all three Sunday Times Parent Power Awards for the Northeast, these being: School of the Year, Comprehensive School of the Year and School of the Year for Academic Excellence.^[3]

The school takes its name from St Leonard as in medieval times there was a chapel and hospital dedicated to St Leonard was located in this part of Durham. The school is the only secondary school in England dedicated to St Leonard.

The school was opened in 1936 in a former coalmine-owner's house 'Mount Beulah', latterly known as Springwell Hall.^[4]

The school was judged Outstanding in all 5 areas of the Ofsted Framework in 2024.^[5] Previously the school had been judged Good by Ofsted in 2019.^[6]

The school has a rowing club, the St Leonard's School Boat Club.^[7]

• Stephen Cantwell (born 1996), cricketer
• Elliot Embleton, footballer^[8]
• Paddy and Martin McAloon, founders of the pop group Prefab Sprout
• Jessica Eddie, Olympic medal-winning rower