UKSchoolSearch
OpenSecondaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 136770

King James I Academy Bishop Auckland

Academy converter · Bishop Auckland · DL14 7JZ

Ages 11–18 · 936 pupils · County Durham

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

Attainment 8

41.6

Overall absence

9.3%

Admissions demand

0.99 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2026-03-17

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionStrong 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 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.21
−20+2
Attainment 841.6
English & maths grade 5+29%
English & maths grade 4+54%
EBacc entry13%

EBacc APS: 3.3

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence9.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)33.1%
Unauthorised4.0%
Authorised absence
5.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.3%
Enrolments in measure
829

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary 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

0.99 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

155

Places offered

157

1st-preference offers

155

Total preferences (any rank)
368
Preferred offers (top 3)
156
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

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 fill98%

936 pupils · 956 places

Pupils on roll
936
Boys / girls
470 / 466
School capacity
956
Capacity fill
936 / 956 (98%)
Free school meals
50.6%
FSM pupils
400
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: EDEN LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
EDEN LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
Eden Learning Trust
Headteacher
Mr Simon Whitehead

Location

Address
South Church Road
Postcode
DL14 7JZ
Town
Bishop Auckland
County
County Durham
Local authority
County Durham
District
County Durham
Constituency
Bishop Auckland
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
PD - Physical Disability
Special classes
No Special Classes

Local context

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

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, 936 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 50.6%. SEN provision includes: PD - Physical Disability.

Open schools in Bishop Auckland
39
Secondary schools in Bishop Auckland
4
Academies among open schools in Bishop Auckland
44% (17)
Open schools in DL14
26
Secondary in DL14
3
Open schools in County Durham LA
281
Secondary in County Durham LA
30

Nearby secondary 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 DL14

  • Bishop Barrington Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 6LA · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.8
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+20%
    • Absence12.3%

    1.0 miles away

  • Etherley Lane Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 7RB · County Durham

    Ages 4–11

    • KS270%
    • Absence7.0%
    • FSM43.7%
    • Demand0.84

    0.5 miles away

  • Etherley Lane Nursery School

    Ofsted: Good

    Local authority nursery school · Nursery

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 7RF · County Durham

    Ages 2–4

    • FSM0.0%

    0.5 miles away

  • Cockton Hill Junior School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Community school · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 6HW · County Durham

    Ages 7–11

    • KS241%
    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM58.3%

    0.6 miles away

  • Cockton Hill Infant School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Community school · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 6HW · County Durham

    Ages 2–7

    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM50.0%
    • Demand1.00

    0.6 miles away

  • Evergreen Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community special school

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 6LS · County Durham

    Ages 2–11

    • KS20%
    • Absence9.0%
    • FSM62.6%

    0.7 miles away

  • St Andrew's Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bishop Auckland · DL14 6RY · County Durham

    Ages 3–11

    • FSM36.4%

    0.7 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Simon Whitehead
Telephone
01388603388
Website
http://www.kingjames1academy.co.uk

Official links