Witton-le-Wear Primary School, Bishop Auckland
Witton-le-Wear Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Bishop Auckland, part of Advance Learning Partnership. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 22 schools in Bishop Auckland with published results, and 9,595th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Witton-le-Wear Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at Witton-le-Wear Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 83% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Witton-le-Wear Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 17 families put Witton-le-Wear Primary School as their first choice and 35 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Witton-le-Wear Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Witton-le-Wear Primary School are Howden-le-Wear Primary School (1.5 miles, 59% reading, 59% maths); St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park (1.9 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths); Hamsterley Primary School (2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 29% maths); and Toft Hill Primary School (2.3 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 81% maths).
Witton-le-Wear Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Howden-le-Wear Primary SchoolSt Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton ParkHamsterley Primary SchoolToft Hill Primary School
The trust
Witton-le-Wear Primary School is one of 23 schools run by Advance Learning Partnership, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
69 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Witton-le-Wear Primary School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 79% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (79%).
Who goes there
11.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 16 pupils (14%) received SEN support and 2 (1.8%) 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.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Witton-le-Wear Primary School.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Witton Hall (nw-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often burglary, drug offences and weapons possession. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Witton-le-Wear Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Witton-le-Wear Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in January 2023. Before that, as Witton-le-Wear Primary School (URN 114067), it was rated Outstanding in April 2013.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school provides an excellent foundation for all children, with staff who know pupils and families extremely well. Children with additional needs receive personalised support that helps them access learning with increasing independence and be included fully in school life. The school fosters a genuine love of reading and develops confident, independent learners who can discuss their learning in depth and make links across subjects.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional early years provision with well-planned curriculum and highly skilled staff
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum that meets all pupils' needs with sharp focus on fulfilling potential
- Outstanding support for pupils with SEND, including early identification and timely specialist access
- Strong reading culture with pupils showing impressive depth of understanding and analysis
- Excellent attendance management with pupils and families recognising the importance of regular attendance
Areas for Improvement
- Behaviour management systems not yet fully embedded across the school, leading to inconsistency in staff approaches and some pupils being unclear about high expectations
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational visits, career days, lunchtime activity clubs, entrepreneurial projects, community events, local history and landmarks exploration
Witton-le-Wear Primary School is a highly aspirational and caring school where pupils feel safe, belong, and thrive. The school has an ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with special educational needs, and achieves exceptionally well across all areas.
At a Glance
11.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
69 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 83% to 63% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 75% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 75% to 94% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.0
Avg class size
21.0
Infant (KS1)
30.5
KS2
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Witton-le-Wear Primary School
Before and after school care
Witton-le-Wear Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in County Durham
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Witton-le-Wear Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Witton-le-Wear Primary School 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 Witton-le-Wear Primary School
Will you get a place at Witton-le-Wear Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Witton-le-Wear Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Witton-le-Wear Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Witton-le-Wear Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from County Durham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Witton-le-Wear Primary School for 2023 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
95%
Near capacity
100 pupils
105 places
5 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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
16
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
15.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
114
Total Pupils
67
Boys
47
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
22.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,927
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,069
Per pupil
£649k
Total funding
£12k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.9%
Overall absence
4.3%
Persistent absence
93
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Witton-le-Wear Primary School
What are SATs results like at Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
Of the pupils at Witton-le-Wear Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 63% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Witton-le-Wear Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Witton-le-Wear Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in January 2023. Before that, as Witton-le-Wear Primary School (URN 114067), it was rated Outstanding in April 2013.
What is the catchment area for Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Witton-le-Wear Primary School 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 Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
Witton-le-Wear Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
Classes at Witton-le-Wear Primary School average 28 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
Witton-le-Wear Primary School has around 114 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
3.9% of sessions were missed at Witton-le-Wear Primary School in 2024/25. 4.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Witton-le-Wear Primary School 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.
Does Witton-le-Wear Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Witton-le-Wear Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
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 Witton-le-Wear Primary School?
Witton-le-Wear Primary School is at Witton-le-Wear Primary School, St James Gardens, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 0BG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)