Schools by area › County Durham › King James I Academy Bishop Auckland
King James I Academy Bishop Auckland
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
South Church Road, Bishop Auckland DL14 7JZ · kingjames1academy.co.uk · 01388 603388
On the mapSearch near DL14 7JZ
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 43.9
- average Attainment 8 score. County Durham 44.1, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 5.52 mi
- 8.88 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · County Durham Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 936
- 98% of 956 places
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 50.6%
- First language not English
- 4.1%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Eden Learning Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 5.52 mi (8.88 km) from the school. Source: County Durham Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 152 families put the school first and 156 places were offered; 98% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 156 | 152 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 176 | 203 | 1.2▲ | 86% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 157 | 155 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 171 | 183 | 1.1▲ | 92% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 170 | 192 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 5.52 mi8.88 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.9, and 28.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across County Durham it was 44.1, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (32.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼43.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼28.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼59.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼22.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.53 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 39.6 | −21.6 |
| Sixth form college | 2.7 | +1.3 |
| Further education | 36.9 | +15.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 6 | +3.3 |
| Employment | 4.7 | −0.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.7 | +2.6 |
| Activity not captured | 1.3 | −0.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 students | C+ (32.1) | Average -0.18 | |
| 46 students | C+ (32.7) | Average -0.10 | |
| 55 students | Merit+ (28.8) | Average +0.14 | |
| 14 students | Dist- (31.2) | Average -0.45 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46 | C+ (34.6) | +0.02 |
| 2022/23 | 29 | C (30) | — |
| 2021/22 | 21 | C+ (32.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 33 | C- (27.1) | -0.12 |
| 2017/18 | 40 | C (28.9) | 0.00 |
| 2016/17 | 65 | C+ (33.1) | +0.52 |
| 2015/16 | 46 | C- (28) | +0.28 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 31.6 | −3.4 |
| Further and other education | 3.8 | −1.2 |
| Further education | 2.5 | — |
| Other education | 1.3 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 12.7 | −0.6 |
| Employment | 26.6 | +4.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 15.2 | −3.1 |
| Activity not captured | 10.1 | +3.4 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected King James I Academy Bishop Auckland on 17 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 17 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Feb 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2022Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Apr 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
83% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (71 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 83%
- Positive
- 76%
- Replies
- 71
- 8% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on 17 parents (24%) whose child was bullied
based on 19 parents (27%) with SEND