St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

The school takes its name from St Leonard as in medieval times there was a chapel and hospital dedicated to St Leonard in this part of Durham.^[2]

The school was opened in 1936 in a former coalmine-owner's house 'Mount Beulah', latterly known as Springwell Hall.^[3]

The school was established as St Leonard's Catholic Central School in Springwell Hall, which had been acquired in 1935 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.^[4]

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.^[5]

In April 2026 the school moved into a new building, part of a £71 million new building project. ^[6]

The school was judged Outstanding in all 5 areas of the Ofsted Framework in 2024.^[7] Previously the school had been judged Good by Ofsted in 2019.^[8]

The school has a rowing club, the St Leonard's School Boat Club.^[9]

• Stephen Cantwell (born 1996), cricketer
• Elliot Embleton, footballer^[10]
• Paddy and Martin McAloon, founders of the pop group Prefab Sprout
• Jessica Eddie, Olympic medal-winning rower