St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park, Bishop Auckland
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bishop Auckland, part of Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust. It has a Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 22 schools in Bishop Auckland with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 60% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park in detail
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Chad's Catholic Primary School. I am very proud to be the Headteacher of this calm, happy and welcoming learning community where the school's values and mission statement, 'come as you are and walk with us', are reflected in every aspect of school life."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include tennis and dance.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:50am and after-school care, from £2 per day.
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 9am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in County Durham
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park reached the expected standard in reading and 75% 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 47% in reading and 33% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park as their first choice and 9 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park are Escomb Primary School (1 mile, Requires improvement, 79% reading, 68% maths); Toft Hill Primary School (1 mile, Outstanding, 84% reading, 81% maths); Witton-le-Wear Primary School (1.9 miles, 63% reading, 81% maths); and St Helen Auckland Community Primary School (2 miles, 54% reading, 68% maths).
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Escomb Primary SchoolToft Hill Primary SchoolWitton-le-Wear Primary SchoolSt Helen Auckland Community Primary School
The trust
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park is one of 35 schools run by Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 14 pupils (24.6%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Staffing
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bishop Auckland West Weardale Rail Station, about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Chad's School (e-bound), 10 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 12 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
29.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 47% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 33% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 47% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
19.0
Avg class size
18.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
Celebrating Two Fantastic Terms Across BHCET
15 Jul 2026
Class 1 Learn About the Importance of Good Dental Hygiene
14 Jul 2026
St Chad’s Catholic Primary School Pupils Enjoy Inspiring Literary Adventure at Two Tales in Durham
6 Jul 2026
St Chad’s Catholic Primary School Pupils Enjoy Thrilling Derwent Hill Residential
29 Jun 2026
Year 6 Celebrate ‘Treat Day’ at Planet Leisure
23 Jun 2026
St Chad’s Catholic Primary School Pupils Praised for Outstanding Behaviour at Hopetown Darlington Visit
12 Jun 2026
From St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park is in County Durham; for families living there:
- County Durham's school travel policy: School transport policies and strategies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school travel
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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
Your chances of a place at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
Will you get a place at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from County Durham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park for 2021 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in County Durham got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
60%
Available places
63 pupils
105 places
42 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
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
6,581
Applications
4,409
Got 1st preference
97.3%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across County Durham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
14
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
24.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
57
Total Pupils
33
Boys
24
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
11.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,127
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,154
Per pupil
£524k
Total funding
£32k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.4%
Overall absence
13.3%
Persistent absence
60
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
What are SATs results like at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
Of the pupils at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park's Ofsted rating?
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023.
What is the catchment area for St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
No fixed boundary. When St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park is oversubscribed, County Durham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park was not full in 2025: it ran at 60% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
Classes at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park average 19 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park has around 57 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
6.4% of sessions were missed at St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park in 2024/25. 13.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park?
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park is at The Baltic, Witton Park, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 0EP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)