Butterknowle Primary School
| Type | Primary / Community school |
| Age Range | 3-11 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Pinfold Lane Butterknowle Bishop Auckland County Durham DL13 5PB |
| Phone | 01388718369 |
| Reference Number | 114102 |
Butterknowle Primary School is currently navigating through a period of transformation after joining a federation of schools. The school has established a supportive environment that promotes safety and inclusion, with leaders actively working to improve pupil outcomes. While relationships between pupils and staff are strong, and safeguarding measures are effectively implemented, there are notable challenges in academic achievement, particularly in reading, writing, and mathematics, which remain below national averages. Overall, the school demonstrates a commitment to enhancing educational quality but requires further development in curriculum and instruction to better prepare pupils for secondary education.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 50 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 46%
Girls: 54% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 26% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 0% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 12.5 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 10 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 15 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 6 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 98% |
| Unclassified | 2% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Expected standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Expected standard |
| > Achievement | Needs attention |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Expected standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Needs attention |
| > Inclusion | Expected standard |
| > Early Years | Expected standard |
| Last Report Date | 10 Feb 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 10 Feb 2026 | School inspection |
| 27 Sep 2023 | School inspection |
| 01 May 2018 | Short inspection |
| 12 Sep 2013 | Full inspection |
| 24 Jan 2012 | Full inspection |
| 30 Jun 2009 | Full inspection |
| 07 Mar 2006 | Full inspection |
| 17 Oct 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong community relationships foster a positive school environment.
- Effective early years provision ensuring a secure start for children.
- Proactive safeguarding measures established by leaders.
- Commitment to improving the curriculum and raising pupil achievement.
- Staff are motivated and engaged in the changes being implemented.
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils' achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics is significantly below national averages.
- Inconsistent application of new assessment systems among teachers.
- Limited opportunities for pupils to deepen knowledge in some subjects.
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 29% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 97 | ||
| Maths | 98 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockAverage Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 1 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 0 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Cockfield Primary School
Front Street, Cockfield, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 5EN |
1.29 miles |
|
Woodland Primary School
Woodland, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 5RF |
2.25 miles |
|
Ramshaw Primary School
Oaks Bank, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 9SD |
2.69 miles |
|
Evenwood Church of England Primary School
New Road, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 9QZ |
2.78 miles |
|
Hamsterley Primary School
Hamsterley Primary School, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 3QF |
3.31 miles |
|
Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School
Black Swan Wynd, Staindrop, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3NL |
3.55 miles |
|
Toft Hill Primary School
Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 0JA |
3.72 miles |
|
Witton-le-Wear Primary School
Witton-le-Wear Primary School, 31 St James Gardens, Witton-le-Wear, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 0BG |
4.28 miles |
|
Copeland Road Primary School
West Auckland, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 9JJ |
4.28 miles |
|
Oakley Cross Primary School and Nursery
Lomond Walk, West Auckland, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 9UD |
4.5 miles |
|
St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park
The Baltic, Witton Park, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 0EP |
4.57 miles |
|
St Helen Auckland Community Primary School
Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 9EN |
4.94 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Highcroft School
Highcroft, The Green, Cockfield, BISHOP AUCKLAND, County Durham, DL13 5AG |
1.45 miles |
|
Staindrop Academy
Cleatlam Lane, Staindrop, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3JU |
3.49 miles |