Wearhead Primary School
Wearhead, Bishop Auckland, DL13 1BNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Wearhead Primary School is a primary school in Bishop Auckland for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 July 2019, report published 10 September 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 8 October 2024
Pupils at Wearhead thrive as part of a tightly knit and nurturing school community. In this very small school, positive relationships abound. Everyone in the school 'family' looks out for one another. Pupils welcome visitors with wide smiles. Staff know the pupils exceptionally well. Pupils are treated as unique individuals. They are happy and safe. Well-trained staff ensure that this is the case. The school has high expectations of pupils. Through effective pastoral and academic support, pupils achieve well both socially and academically. Pupils at Wearhead enjoy many opportunities to mix with pupils from other federation schools. These include regular lessons together as well as educational visits and residentials. Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Behaviour across school is very positive. Pupils understand the school's expectations. They strive to live up to these. Older pupils demonstrate exemplary attitudes towards the youngest children in school. Pupils enjoy coming to school. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. One parent's comment summed up the feelings of others by saying, 'I cannot speak highly enough of the staff and ethos.'
What the school should improve
- The school's assessment procedures in some areas are under review and incomplete. This means that pupils' misconceptions and gaps in learning are sometimes not identified and addressed quickly enough. The school should embed its assessment processes to ensure that checks on key knowledge and skills allow gaps to be identified and addressed in line with the school's intentions.
- Governors' monitoring of school performance and the challenge they provide is not robust. This means that governors are not consistently holding leaders to account. Governors should ensure that they develop their ability to offer support and challenge to fulfil their roles more effectively.
Pupil numbers and mix
11 pupils on roll, with places for 42
Schools near Wearhead Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John's Chapel Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Nenthead Primary School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Stanhope Barrington CofE Primary School | 8 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| Alston Primary School | 10 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 38% met the expected standard |
| Allendale Primary School | 10 miles | Ofsted: Good | 47% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Richard Sains
- Phone
- 01388537265
- Address
- Wearhead, Bishop Auckland, DL13 1BN
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 114065
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.