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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Needs attentionURN 114102

Butterknowle Primary School

Community school · Bishop Auckland · DL13 5PB

Ages 3–11 · 54 pupils · County Durham

School website

Ofsted

Needs attention

KS2 expected (RWM)

22%

Overall absence

7.1%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Needs attention

Inspection date

2026-02-10

  • AchievementNeeds attention
  • Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)22%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Avg scaled score — reading
99.0
Avg scaled score — maths
97.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
99.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)20.8%
Unauthorised1.7%
Authorised absence
5.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.1%
Enrolments in measure
48

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

6

Places offered

6

1st-preference offers

6

Total preferences (any rank)
13
Preferred offers (top 3)
6
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill64%

54 pupils · 84 places

Pupils on roll
54
Boys / girls
22 / 32
School capacity
84
Capacity fill
54 / 84 (64%)
Free school meals
20.4%
FSM pupils
11
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community school

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Community school
Federation
Durham Dales Partnership
Headteacher
Sarah Hodgkinson and Richard Sains (Co Executive Headteachers)

Location

Address
Pinfold Lane, Butterknowle
Postcode
DL13 5PB
Town
Bishop Auckland
County
County Durham
Local authority
County Durham
District
County Durham
Constituency
Bishop Auckland
Urban/rural
Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community school (primary), Ages 3–11, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, 54 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery. Free school meals: 20.4%.

Open schools in Bishop Auckland
39
Primary schools in Bishop Auckland
30
Academies among open schools in Bishop Auckland
44% (17)
Open schools in DL13
13
Primary in DL13
11
Open schools in County Durham LA
281
Primary in County Durham LA
209

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in Bishop AucklandNear DL13

  • Cockfield Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL13 5EN · County Durham

    Ages 2–11

    • KS254%
    • Absence6.2%
    • FSM25.7%
    • Demand1.07

    1.3 miles away

  • Woodland Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL13 5RF · County Durham

    Ages 3–11

    • KS250%
    • Absence4.0%
    • FSM8.0%
    • Demand1.00

    2.3 miles away

  • Ramshaw Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 9SD · County Durham

    Ages 4–11

    • Absence6.8%
    • FSM33.3%
    • Demand1.00

    2.7 miles away

  • Evenwood Church of England Primary School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 9QZ · County Durham

    Ages 2–11

    • KS292%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM60.2%
    • Demand1.00

    2.8 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Sarah Hodgkinson and Richard Sains (Co Executive Headteachers)
Telephone
01388718369
Website
https://www.durhamdalespartnership.co.uk

Official links