Bishop Barrington Academy
Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6LAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Bishop Barrington Academy is a secondary school in Bishop Auckland for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 28th of 30 secondary schools in County Durham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 25 June 2024, report published 29 September 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 25 June 2024
Pupils at Bishop Barrington Academy are welcoming. The school reinforces its high expectations when teaching pupils about the 'Barrington way'. Pupils learn the importance of making positive choices in their behaviour and learning. This is reflected in pupils' positive conduct. Incidents of poor behaviour have significantly reduced and are infrequent. Consequently, pupils learn effectively and enjoy playing in the company of peers. The school provides pupils with a comprehensive range of opportunities to enrich their education. Leaders have adjusted the timings of the school day to make sure that these are accessible to all pupils. The variety of clubs available, such as mindfulness, craft club and sports clubs, interest a wide range of pupils. Many pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, have made use of the school's new lunchtime clubs and activities. The school supports pupils to become positive members of the local community. Pupils visit local places of cultural significance, such as Auckland castle, to learn about the history of the area. Some pupils hold leadership responsibilities, such as on the school council, that enable them to positively impact the school community. The school has high expectations for pupils' academic achievement. Many pupils realise these. Improvements in the quality of education provided by the school are benefitting pupils. Over time, pupils have not achieved as well as they should have by the end of key stage 4, including in national assessments.
What the school should improve
- Teachers do not use assessment information consistently well to adapt their teaching. In some lessons, gaps in pupils' knowledge are not addressed as quickly as they could be. The school should ensure that teachers routinely use information from assessment well to inform their teaching.
- Too many pupils continue to be regularly absent from school. These pupils miss important learning and develop gaps in their knowledge. The school should build on its current effective approach to improving attendance to ensure that all pupils benefit from the improved quality of education that the school provides.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
128 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
599 pupils on roll, with places for 814
Schools near Bishop Barrington Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 46.4 |
| King James I Academy Bishop Auckland | 1 mile | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 43.9 |
| Parkside Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 46.9 |
| Greenfield Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 35.7 |
| Whitworth Park Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 50.4 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ADVANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Colin Smith
- Phone
- 01388603307
- Address
- Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6LA
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 148706
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.