Classpot

Bishop Barrington Academy

County Durham, DL14 6LASecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2024
Progress 8
-0.27
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
120 1st-choice / 136 places
Ranking
#2,155
of 3,141 nationally

About Bishop Barrington Academy

Bishop Barrington Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.27 sits just below the County Durham local authority average of -0.21, placing it in the ‘below average’ national banding. That gap is modest — roughly one-tenth of a grade per subject — but it means the school ranks 23rd out of 31 secondary schools in the area, putting it in the bottom quarter of its local authority. More telling is the breakdown: pupils’ progress in maths (-0.84) and the EBacc subjects (-0.67) is notably weaker than in English (-0.46), while the ‘open’ element of Progress 8 (which covers non-core qualifications) actually comes out positive at +0.6. This suggests the school’s strongest results are in the broader curriculum rather than the core academic pillars. With 51.2 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals — well above the national average — the context is a challenging one, and the school’s overall attainment 8 score of 41.8 reflects that intake.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressWoodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 6LA
HeadteacherColin Smith
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils602
Free School Meals (FSM)51.2%
School Capacity602 / 814 (74% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

25 Jun 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 29 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Swimming PoolTheatreSports HallLibraryGymnasiumPlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreArt StudiosAstro TurfMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

HockeyAthleticsNetballCross CountryRoundersSwimmingTennisFootball

Clubs & Activities

DebateCodingBook ClubArt ClubYoung EnterpriseScience Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-Sensory

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

Source: bishopbarrington.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bishop Barrington Academy

Bishop Barrington Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.