Welcome to Team Tanfield

Home of the hardest working young people in Durham

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Schools’ Physicist of the Year 2026

September Start Times

Read here to learn about our staggered start times when your child returns in September

Changes to our Mobile Phone Policy

Find out how Tanfield School is supporting to legal changes regarding mobile phones in school.

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Future Business Magnate Students Achieve 2nd Place in the FBM Competition 2026

At Tanfield School we have many minds but one mission: to get students to attend the best university, or real alternative, succeed in their dream job and thrive in all aspects of their life.

Our core values of hard work, trust and fairness permeate all that we do. From the moment a student arrives at Tanfield, we ask them to live these values: HARD WORK, TRUST, AND FAIRNESS.

We also focus on three key drivers: MASTERY, which is the drive to get better at things that matter; AUTONOMY, or the drive to direct our own lives; and PURPOSE, which is the drive to connect to a cause larger than ourselves (Dan Pink, 'Drive').

We clearly communicate our mission, values and drivers throughout every day so that the whole school community knows the purpose of everything that we do.

For students to meet our high expectations, we know that we need to invest in building very strong relationships with parents, carers and families. Tanfield School encourages your involvement. We want you to play an active part in your child’s education and to support our staff as they carry out their responsibilities with your child.

You are welcome to visit us at any time. If you do, you will see for yourself why we are so proud of our students.

Steven Clough

Headteacher