Bishop Auckland College, Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland College is a post-16 school for pupils aged 14 to 99 in Bishop Auckland. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2024. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 5th-highest of the 5 schools in Bishop Auckland with published results, and 3,296th of 3,298 across England.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bishop Auckland College in detail
Bishop Auckland College in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is my pleasure to welcome you to Bishop Auckland College. As Principal, I am proud to lead an institution that is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every student has the chance to thrive."
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 19 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026, an open day on Thursday 26 November 2026 and an open day on Monday 1 February 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in County Durham
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Bishop Auckland College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 4.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in County Durham and 47 across England.
2% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in County Durham and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 4.6.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -3.16: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Where pupils go next
Of the 48 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 40% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.
Of the 317 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 10% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 34% into work. 2% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bishop Auckland West Weardale Rail Station, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is College (nw-bound), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bishop Auckland College stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 280 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Contribution to meeting skills needs: Reasonable
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Bishop Auckland College excels at preparing students for real careers through high-quality work experience, community projects and trips that build confidence and widen interests. The college is particularly outstanding in supporting students with high needs, helping them develop independence and achieve their social and educational goals. Staff are dedicated to keeping their teaching current with real industry experience.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding support for students with high needs through the Aspire specialist provision with clear pathways mapped to Preparation for Adulthood framework
- Excellent work experience opportunities with almost all 16-18 year olds participating in meaningful placements and community projects
- High-quality teaching with staff maintaining current vocational expertise through regular returns to industry
- Comprehensive enrichment activities and trips including overseas opportunities to Portugal, France and Albania
- Highly effective careers advice tailored to individual students from the start of their course
Areas for Improvement
- Attendance of 14-16 year old students remains too low despite marginal improvements from previous years
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - staff promote a positive culture with zero-tolerance to bullying and harassment, students understand how to report concerns, and apprentices receive thorough safeguarding training including recognising signs of abuse and neglect.
Extracurricular Activities
Football, badminton, video gaming, e-sports, museum visits, theatre visits, workplace visits, overseas trips to Portugal France and Albania, work-related projects in orphanages, Auckland Project deer park management, community projects including Bishop Auckland Pride and Education Enterprise Legacy, immersive police service simulation with Durham Constabulary
Bishop Auckland College is a small further education college in County Durham serving over 1,000 learners across vocational programmes, apprenticeships, and adult learning. The college has been rated Good overall with Outstanding provision for students with high needs and personal development.
About
Bishop Auckland College is a further education college located in the town of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. It is located on Woodhouse Lane next to St John's Catholic School, and opposite Bishop Barrington Academy.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
z
Average grade
z
Best 3 A-Levels
z
Value added
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
2023/24 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 317 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
2%
Top-third university
10%
Degree course
21%
Any L4+ destination
0%
Apprenticeships
Based on 122 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Latest from Bishop Auckland College
Angel Trust and The Auckland Project invest in the next generation through apprenticeships.
25 Sep 2026
Bishop Auckland College ‘superstar’ student lands dream role to help change lives of others
16 Sep 2026
Financial Support for Students: Learner Support Funds
14 Sep 2026
From Apprentice to Permanent Engineer: Spencer’s Journey at SWDT
1 Sep 2026
Bishop Auckland College celebrates success stories on Level 3 results day
13 Aug 2026
From Lego builder to award-winning joiner - Josh Slack crowned top apprentice 2026
27 Jul 2026
From Bishop Auckland College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Bishop Auckland College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Bishop Auckland
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bishop Auckland
Across County Durham council
Places available
5,720
Applications
4,986
Got 1st preference
94.2%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across County Durham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(13)
Questions parents ask about Bishop Auckland College
What are GCSE results like at Bishop Auckland College?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Bishop Auckland College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 4.8. 2% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Bishop Auckland College's Ofsted rating?
Bishop Auckland College was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024.
What is the catchment area for Bishop Auckland College?
No fixed boundary. When Bishop Auckland College is oversubscribed, County Durham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Bishop Auckland College?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Bishop Auckland College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Bishop Auckland College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bishop Auckland College?
Bishop Auckland College is at Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 6JZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)