Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School
near Startforth, DL12 9LG · County Durham local authority
Startforth’s School Grade A+ better than 98% of towns in England
What stands out about Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School
- Its own letter, D: Key Stage 2 results near the bottom of England’s primary schools (better than 6%)
- 41% meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 21 points below England’s schools
- Room to spare: 39 pupils for 70 places
- 8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (fewer than England’s 25%)
- Ofsted report card, March 2026: achievement expected standard, safeguarding met (shown, not graded)
- Outside any built-up area: listed with Startforth, the nearest town
- Every family who put it first got a place for September 2026 (5 of 5)
- Homes in its postcode sector (DL12 9) sold for a median £280,000; Startforth’s is £249,975
Results
DfE · Key Stage 2Reading, writing and maths 41%
Met the expected standard, DfE’s 3-year average 2023–2025 · higher than 6% of England’s 14,979 graded primaries · County Durham avg 60%
England’s figures are of its graded mainstream state schools, each school counted once; grammar schools are included, which is why the right-hand tail is long. Small cohorts are suppressed.
How hard is it to get a place at Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School?
Every family who put it first got a place for September 2026.
In every year shown, every family who put it first was offered a place. The council runs the coordinated admissions; each school’s rules (siblings, distance, faith) decide who gets in. DfE doesn’t publish the furthest distance offered, so check the council’s admissions booklet for that. The school’s governing body sets the admissions rules. Apply through County Durham council’s coordinated admissions.
Outline = places offered · green = families who put it first · striped = more first choices than places
100% got their first choice
Startforth and County Durham, side by side
2023–2025All 199 graded primaries in County Durham. Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually score lower, so a school above the crowd for its free school meals is doing better than its intake predicts. Startforth’s schools are coloured by their letter.
Show as a table
| School | Letter | Free school meals | KS2 expected standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montalbo Nursery & Primary School | A+ | 14% | 91% |
| Bullion Lane Primary School | A+ | 68% | 91% |
| Evenwood Church of England Primary School | A+ | 60% | 91% |
| Thornhill Primary School | A+ | 36% | 87% |
| Staindrop CofE (Controlled) Primary School | A+ | 16% | 87% |
| New Seaham Academy | A+ | 10% | 86% |
| Ingleton CofE Primary School | A+ | 15% | 86% |
| Cestria Primary School | A+ | 14% | 85% |
| Framwellgate Moor Primary School | A+ | 18% | 85% |
| St Margaret's Church of England Primary School | A | 2% | 82% |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle | A | 22% | 82% |
| Burnopfield Primary School | A | 18% | 81% |
| St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Seaham | A | 19% | 81% |
| Coxhoe Primary School | A | 21% | 80% |
| St Oswald's Church of England Aided Primary and Nursery School | A | 9% | 80% |
| Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy | A | 30% | 80% |
| Kirk Merrington Primary School | A | 12% | 79% |
| Greenland Community Primary School | A | 48% | 79% |
| Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy | A | 13% | 78% |
| Woodlea Primary School | A | 24% | 78% |
| Red Rose Primary School | A | 15% | 77% |
| Finchale Primary School | A | 5% | 77% |
| St Anne's CofE Primary School | A | 13% | 76% |
| Lanchester Endowed Parochial Primary School | A | 16% | 76% |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School | A | 41% | 76% |
| St Godric's Catholic Primary School, Durham | A | 1% | 76% |
| St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Dipton | A | 27% | 76% |
| Lumley Junior School | A− | 26% | 75% |
| Langley Moor Primary School | A− | 17% | 75% |
| Tudhoe Colliery Primary School | A− | 15% | 75% |
| St Michael's Church of England Primary School | A− | 13% | 75% |
| Stanley (Crook) Primary School | A− | 11% | 74% |
| Neville's Cross Primary School and Nursery | A− | 7% | 74% |
| Pittington Primary School | A− | 8% | 73% |
| Ebchester CofE Primary School | A− | 14% | 73% |
| Belmont CofE (Controlled) Primary School | A− | 16% | 73% |
| Browney Primary Academy | A− | 16% | 73% |
| St William's Catholic Primary School | A− | 17% | 73% |
| Vane Road Primary School | A− | 24% | 73% |
| St Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornley | A− | 28% | 72% |
| St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Chester-Le-Street | A− | 8% | 72% |
| Wolsingham Primary School | A− | 20% | 71% |
| Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary School | A− | 7% | 71% |
| Rosa Street Primary and Nursery Academy | A− | 36% | 71% |
| Kelloe Primary School | A− | 45% | 71% |
| Westlea Primary School | B+ | 43% | 70% |
| Toft Hill Primary School | B+ | 15% | 70% |
| West Rainton Primary School | B+ | 52% | 70% |
| Sacriston Academy | B+ | 43% | 70% |
| Hartside Primary Academy | B+ | 28% | 70% |
| St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village | B+ | 14% | 70% |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Shotton | B+ | 32% | 70% |
| St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School | B+ | 13% | 70% |
| Hesleden Primary School | B+ | 25% | 69% |
| Seaview Primary School | B+ | 46% | 69% |
| Nettlesworth Primary School | B+ | 31% | 68% |
| Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School | B+ | 27% | 68% |
| Sedgefield Primary School | B+ | 16% | 68% |
| South Stanley Junior School | B+ | 62% | 68% |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall | B+ | 29% | 68% |
| Aycliffe Village Primary and Nursery School | B+ | 19% | 68% |
| Wheatley Hill Community Primary School | B | 43% | 67% |
| Blue Coat CofE (Aided) Junior School | B | 15% | 67% |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murton | B | 17% | 67% |
| Green Lane Church of England Primary School | B | 32% | 67% |
| Hunwick Primary School | B | 18% | 67% |
| Cassop Primary School | B | 17% | 66% |
| Easington Colliery Primary School | B | 43% | 66% |
| Newker Primary School | B | 29% | 66% |
| Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School | B | 42% | 66% |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley | B | 18% | 66% |
| New Brancepeth Primary Academy | B | 56% | 66% |
| Ramshaw Primary School | B | 33% | 65% |
| Shotton Primary School | B | 48% | 65% |
| Tanfield Lea Community Primary School | B | 34% | 65% |
| Ribbon School | B | 41% | 65% |
| Easington CofE Primary School | B | 21% | 65% |
| Ropery Walk Primary School | B− | 33% | 64% |
| Consett Junior School | B− | 33% | 64% |
| West Cornforth Primary School | B− | 48% | 64% |
| St Charles' Catholic Primary School, Tudhoe | B− | 14% | 64% |
| St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont | B− | 15% | 64% |
| Peases West Academy | B− | 62% | 64% |
| Hutton Henry CofE (Controlled) Primary School | B− | 25% | 64% |
| Bournmoor Primary School | B− | 44% | 63% |
| Wearhead Primary School | B− | 18% | 63% |
| Ludworth Primary School | B− | 58% | 63% |
| Sherburn Primary School | B− | 31% | 63% |
| Shotton Hall Primary School | B− | 27% | 63% |
| Bishop Ian Ramsey CofE Primary School | B− | 32% | 63% |
| Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School | B− | 15% | 63% |
| All Saints' Catholic Primary School, Lanchester | B− | 12% | 63% |
| St Hild's College Church of England Primary School, Durham | B− | 54% | 63% |
| Shotley Bridge Primary School | B− | 11% | 62% |
| Etherley Lane Primary School | B− | 44% | 62% |
| Sugar Hill Primary School | B− | 32% | 62% |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe | B− | 47% | 62% |
| Escomb Primary School | B− | 14% | 61% |
| Cockfield Primary School | B− | 26% | 61% |
| Victoria Lane Academy | B− | 58% | 61% |
| St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Langley Moor | B− | 8% | 61% |
| Bowburn Primary School | B− | 31% | 61% |
| Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School | C+ | 68% | 60% |
| Springmoor Grange School | C+ | 20% | 60% |
| Byerley Park Primary School | C+ | 25% | 60% |
| Stanhope Barrington CofE Primary School | C+ | 23% | 60% |
| St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston | C+ | 7% | 60% |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Blackhill | C+ | 10% | 60% |
| Howden-le-Wear Primary School | C+ | 18% | 60% |
| Witton-le-Wear Primary School | C+ | 12% | 60% |
| Bluebell Meadow Primary School | C+ | 44% | 59% |
| Our Lady and St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Willington | C+ | 26% | 59% |
| Chester-Le-Street CofE (Controlled) Primary School | C+ | 24% | 58% |
| Bloemfontein Primary School | C+ | 59% | 58% |
| Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor | C+ | 28% | 58% |
| Byers Green Primary School | C | 40% | 57% |
| Woodland Primary School | C | 8% | 57% |
| Roseberry Primary and Nursery School | C | 26% | 57% |
| Dene House Primary School | C | 54% | 57% |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate | C | 26% | 57% |
| St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook | C | 37% | 57% |
| Middlestone Moor Academy | C | 41% | 57% |
| Collierley Nursery and Primary School | C | 33% | 57% |
| St Helen Auckland Community Primary School | C | 43% | 57% |
| Prince Bishops Community Primary School | C | 50% | 57% |
| Blackhall Primary School | C | 47% | 56% |
| St Stephen's Church of England Primary School | C | 32% | 56% |
| King Street Primary School | C | 42% | 56% |
| Shield Row Primary School | C | 31% | 56% |
| South Hetton Primary | C | 39% | 56% |
| Brandon Primary Academy | C | 55% | 56% |
| Moorside Primary Academy | C | 49% | 56% |
| Burnhope Primary School | C | 52% | 56% |
| Wingate Primary School | C | 39% | 56% |
| West Pelton Primary School | C | 55% | 55% |
| Crook Primary School | C | 39% | 55% |
| Ouston Primary School | C | 15% | 55% |
| Fishburn Primary School | C | 51% | 55% |
| Willington Primary School | C | 56% | 54% |
| Cotsford Primary School | C | 53% | 54% |
| Yohden Primary School | C | 43% | 54% |
| St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon | C | 54% | 54% |
| St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Sacriston | C | 19% | 54% |
| Annfield Plain Junior School | C | 58% | 54% |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Coundon | C | 46% | 54% |
| Esh Winning Academy | C | 42% | 54% |
| East Stanley School | C− | 52% | 53% |
| St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, Consett | C− | 18% | 53% |
| St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland | C− | 50% | 53% |
| Stanley Burnside Primary School | C− | 67% | 52% |
| Frosterley Primary School | C− | 31% | 52% |
| Catchgate Primary School | C− | 44% | 52% |
| Chilton Academy | C− | 34% | 51% |
| Woodham Burn Community Primary School and Nursery | C− | 50% | 51% |
| Deaf Hill Primary School | C− | 50% | 51% |
| Tow Law Millennium Primary School | C− | 43% | 50% |
| Durham Gilesgate Primary School | C− | 58% | 50% |
| Seaham Trinity Primary School | C− | 45% | 50% |
| Witton Gilbert Primary School | C− | 25% | 49% |
| Our Lady and St Joseph Brooms Catholic Primary School, Leadgate | C− | 40% | 49% |
| Woodhouse Primary Academy | C− | 65% | 49% |
| Leadgate Primary School - Split Site | C− | 52% | 48% |
| Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery | C− | 44% | 48% |
| St Chad's Catholic Primary School, Witton Park | C− | 30% | 48% |
| Langley Park Primary School | C− | 39% | 48% |
| Gainford Church of England Primary School and Preschool | C− | 20% | 48% |
| Bearpark Primary School | D | 40% | 47% |
| St Andrew's Academy | D | 36% | 47% |
| Oakley Cross Primary School and Nursery | D | 40% | 45% |
| Laurel Avenue Community Primary School | D | 71% | 45% |
| Timothy Hackworth Primary School | D | 63% | 44% |
| Acre Rigg Academy | D | 59% | 44% |
| St Pius Xth Catholic Primary School, Consett | D | 24% | 44% |
| Sunnybrow Primary School | D | 69% | 43% |
| Cockton Hill Junior School | D | 58% | 43% |
| St Francis Horndale CofE Primary School | D | 72% | 43% |
| Pelton Community Primary School | D | 48% | 43% |
| Delves Lane Primary School | D | 47% | 42% |
| Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law | D | 34% | 42% |
| Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School | D | 8% | 41% |
| Edmondsley Primary Academy | D | 24% | 41% |
| Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School | D | 53% | 41% |
| North Park Primary School | D | 66% | 40% |
| St Marys Catholic Primary School, Wingate | D | 46% | 40% |
| Thornley Academy | D | 36% | 40% |
| Beamish Primary School | D− | 49% | 38% |
| Castleside Primary School | D− | 23% | 38% |
| Ferryhill Station Primary School | D− | 70% | 36% |
| Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery School | D− | 48% | 35% |
| Copeland Road Primary School | D− | 39% | 35% |
| The Grove Primary School | D− | 43% | 34% |
| Howletch Lane Primary School | D− | 34% | 34% |
| Cotherstone Primary School | D− | 20% | 33% |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, South Moor | D− | 43% | 33% |
| Stephenson Way Academy and Nursery School | D− | 68% | 32% |
| Butterknowle Primary School | D− | 20% | 29% |
| Hamsterley Primary School | D− | 17% | 25% |
| St John's Chapel Primary School | D− | 17% | 17% |
| Seascape Primary School | D− | 73% | 13% |
Who goes here
DfE school census, January 202543 pupils. SEN support is extra help in school for a special educational need; an EHC plan is the council’s legal plan for pupils who need more.
Girls and boys
Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School’s letter
Its own results against England’s schools, not the town’s School Grade.
How school letters are worked out
Each school’s measure is compared with every graded school in England of the same phase: for primaries, the share of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (DfE’s three-year average); for secondaries, Attainment 8 and the share with grade 5 or above in English and maths, each turned into a z-score against England’s schools and averaged. The letter comes from the share of those schools it beats, in the same bands as every grade on the site. The same method gives U.S. schools their letters, against their own state.
Graded: England’s open mainstream state schools with published results (grammar schools included, which select by test). Not graded: special schools, alternative provision, nurseries, 16–19 colleges, UTCs and studio schools, Welsh schools. Ofsted plays no part.
Ofsted inspections
Shown, not graded: Ofsted is never part of a letter or the School Grade.
Report card, inspection starting March 2026.
Before the report card: Graded inspection: Requires improvement, September 2023.
Living near Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School
For families thinking of moving: what homes cost around the school, and the other schools close by.
Home prices in DL12 9, the school’s postcode sector
Startforth property prices →Median sale price each year, 2010 to 2025
By type, the 36 months to August 2026
Homes in DL12 9 sell for a little over Startforth’s typical price. HM Land Registry Price Paid, standard sales. Catchments aren’t published, so the postcode sector stands in for “around the school”.
Location
Directions ↗near Startforth, DL12 9LG
Primary schools near Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School
The nearest state schools of the same phase, as the crow flies. Catchments and admissions rules decide which one a child gets.
Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School: common questions
Is Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School a good school?
By its published results, well below average: its Key Stage 2 results are better than 6% of England’s primary schools (its letter is D), with 41% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% for England’s schools. Ofsted: a report card in March 2026.
How hard is it to get into Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School?
For September 2026, 5 families put Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School first and all of them were offered a place; 5 places were offered in all.
What is Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School’s Ofsted rating?
Its latest inspection (March 2026) gave a report card: achievement expected standard, safeguarding met. Ofsted stopped giving one-word overall grades in September 2024.
How much do houses cost near Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School?
Homes in its postcode sector, DL12 9, sold for a median £280,000 over the 36 months to August 2026 (147 sales).
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Also: DfE Key Stage 4 performance, schools data (2023/24 and 2024/25 final, 2025/26 provisional) and Key Stage 2 performance tables 2024/25 by subject; DfE school census, January 2025; DfE school-level applications and offers, September 2019 to 2026 entry; HM Land Registry Price Paid by postcode sector, 2010 to August 2026.
A school’s letter is our own summary of its published results against England’s schools of the same phase; Startforth’s School Grade is a separate grade, built from the results of the schools in and around the town against other towns. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.