Butterknowle Primary School, Bishop Auckland

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Butterknowle Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders promote a sense of community."

Early years - Expected standard. "Early Years provision provides children with a secure and happy start to their school life."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "This school welcomes everyone."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There have been significant changes in leadership at the school since September 2025."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders place great emphasis on developing a sense of belonging to their community."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement remains a key priority for improvement."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have further improved the focus on ensuring pupils develop the basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further develop the expertise of staff so that they consistently enhance the opportunities and experiences of disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should develop staff confidence in using the newly introduced curriculum to design learning activities which deepen pupils' knowledge and enable teachers to check learning effectively"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils in key stage 2 are given swift support to gain the foundational knowledge they need to achieve well at the end of Year 6".

In 2025, 29% of Year 6 pupils at Butterknowle Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 43% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 44% in reading and 22% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Butterknowle Primary School as their first choice and 6 named it as one of their preferences, for 3 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Butterknowle Primary School are Cockfield Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); Woodland Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 67% maths); Ramshaw Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 82% reading, 64% maths); and Evenwood Church of England Primary School (2.8 miles, 86% reading, 86% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Butterknowle Primary School.

18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Butterknowle Primary School (as of April 2026): 83% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 14 pupils (25.9%) received SEN support and 1 (1.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Butterknowle Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Butterknowle Primary School.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Diamond Inn (se-bound), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).

Butterknowle Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.