Wolsingham Primary School, Bishop Auckland

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Wolsingham 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.

Achievement - Expected standard. "By the end of key stage 2 pupils achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance is highly positive across school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children are safe and happy in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Staff know pupils well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school has created a comprehensive and well considered personal development programme."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The school has prioritised pupils securing a strong foundation in reading, writing and mathematics."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders put pupils first."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen their systems to maintain a strategic oversight of all aspects of safeguarding. Leaders should also strengthen the accuracy and detail in their recording of safeguarding incidents"; "The school should improve curriculum sequencing for mixed aged classes and ensure that staff adapt the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and continue to strengthen how consistently assessment is used across some classes"; "Leaders should strengthen their work to ensure that they have a better understanding of behaviour trends and patterns across school so that the school can develop their response to emerging behaviours"; "Leaders should strengthen their quality assurance systems so that they have an increasingly accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum, teaching and an improved strategic oversight of all aspects of the school's work".

In its own words: "Our vision is to ensure that every child is guided and encouraged to become an independent learner, fulfilling their potential in all areas of their learning, by providing a broad, well-balanced and creative education. At Wolsingham Primary School, children are at the centre of everything we do."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, multi-sports and choir.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Wolsingham Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% 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 86% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 21 families put Wolsingham Primary School as their first choice and 29 named it as one of their preferences, for 21 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 Wolsingham Primary School are Tow Law Millennium Primary School (2.6 miles, Good, 54% reading, 77% maths); Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law (2.9 miles, 56% reading, 22% maths); Frosterley Primary School (3.6 miles, Good, 75% reading, 71% maths); and Hamsterley Primary School (4.6 miles, Good, 71% reading, 29% maths).

Wolsingham Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

2.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 25 pupils (15.3%) received SEN support and 4 (2.5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Wolsingham Primary School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Wolsingham Rail Station, about 800 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Upper Town (s-bound), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 10 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84).

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