Logos
Our logos symbolise the essence of Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, comprising Durham School, Chorister School, and all associated Houses. They embody our commitment to a comprehensive educational journey from ages 3 to 18, capturing our storied heritage and forward-looking ethos.
Need brand advice or support?
If you are unsure which logo to use, or you would like something checked, contact the Marketing team at marketing@dcsf.org.uk.
Which logo to use and when
Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation
Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation is the name of the whole of our organisation. It encompasses both our Schools, all our Houses and all teams and societies.
Use this logo when: you are discussing initiatives, events, or news that encompass the entire Foundation. Even when using the Foundation logo, the specific school identities must also be acknowledged to maintain brand consistency and recognition.
Durham School and Chorister School
The two Schools are key. They are our brand names and logos and are recognised widely by our community and prospective families. The Schools are positioned within the Foundation.
Use these logos when: communications are specific to each School’s pupils, alumni, teams, or School-specific news and events.
Note: The naming of Chorister School has been simplified for the purpose of brand communication but may still be referred to as “the Chorister School”. We no longer use a capitalised “The” at the beginning.
House logos
Our Houses are integral to the pupil experience and have distinct logos.
Use these logos when: highlighting House-related activities or news. The overarching School brand should remain the primary focus, with House identities supporting the broader narrative.
Logo elements
All our logos (Foundation, School, or House) are made up of two main elements:
- Our shield: a modern interpretation of our legacy, blending Durham blue and yellow with a stylised St Cuthbert’s Cross, symbolising our heritage and future.
- The wordmark: the textual component of our logo, ensuring brand recognition.
Our shield
Our shield reflects our heritage and our future. It is an evolution of the founding school’s previous logos. Retaining the traditional Durham blue and yellow, combined with a modern evolution of the four lions (which now become carriers of St Cuthbert’s Cross), our marque is a unique expression of who we are.
Our shield is used in all our brand logos to reflect who we are and for consistency.
Using our logos
Primary logos, featuring the shield with the accompanying wordmark to the right, are the standard and you should use these. These logos are fixed designs and must remain unaltered in any form.The format, channel, or materials you are using may need the alternative logo variant. If you need an alternative version of our logo, contact the Marketing team at marketing@dcsf.org.uk.
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Download our Durham School House Logos
Download our Chorister School House Logos
Logo consistency
Modification of any of our logos in any manner, including stretching, font substitution, or element repositioning, is strictly prohibited.
Exclusion zone (clear space)
Any logo used must be surrounded by a clear space (exclusion zone) to ensure prominence and readability. The exclusion zone prevents any graphic element from interfering with the logo’s integrity.
The logo exclusion zone is defined by using the size of the first letter of the name of the Foundation, School, or House logo it is (for example, D for Foundation and Durham School, C for Chorister School).
This exclusion zone is a minimum and should be increased wherever possible.
Download logos with exclusion zone included
Alignment
The shield and detail on outlined logo and the full shield logo have a slight difference in scale. This is so that they are both the same size overall and have a fixed relationship with the logotype.
Never try to recreate the line-only version by simply removing the shield. Only use supplied versions of logos.
Placement and minimum size
Placement
The default logo placement is in the top left corner. All logos should always appear left aligned on all communications and marketing materials unless the background colour or image does not allow it.
If you need clarification, contact the Marketing team.
Minimum size
Our logos have been designed to reproduce at a minimum width of 30 mm. On the web, the minimum size of the logo is 113 pixels width. There is no maximum reproduction size.
Logo colours and backgrounds
Logo colour options
Foundation and School logos are available in full colour, yellow and white, and monochrome options to accommodate various backgrounds and ensure legibility across all media.
- Full colour: always use this format as default. Use the white wordmark version if the background is dark.
- Yellow outline logo with white wordmark: can be used when full colour clashes with the background, for example a photographic image with sufficient contrast.
- Black logo and wordmark (monochrome): use when other options cannot be seen clearly.
Backgrounds
If you are placing one of our logos on a non-white background or photograph or video, do not use a logo with a white background (JPEG). Use one with a transparent background (PNG). If you need advice, contact the Marketing team.
Incorrect logo use
- The shield should not be used in isolation unless posting on social media.
- The logo should not be stretched or distorted in any way.
- The fonts in the logo should not be altered in any way.
Partner organisations and requests to use our logos
If a partner wants to use our logo, or you are designing something which includes a partner logo, contact the Marketing team at marketing@dcsf.org.uk for advice.
If you receive a request from an external organisation asking for permission to use one of our logos, contact the Marketing team at marketing@dcsf.org.uk so they can liaise directly.
