SchoolScoresBowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Bowes, Bowes Hutchinsons Ce Va Primary School, Barnard Castle, DL12 9LG
01833 628291 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 25 March 2026 , published 18 May 2026.
In short: 7 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
County Durham comparisons use the 18 of its 208 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 190 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 6th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 58% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 89% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 7th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 53% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 89% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 55% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 84% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 13 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 56% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 77% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 13th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in County Durham. Higher than 24% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 42%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. County Durham figures pool parents at the County Durham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
4 pupils in this year group.
Only 4 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | Not published | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | Not published | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | Not published | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| 38% | Not published | Not published |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in County Durham. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 5 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 5 |
| Of those, offered a place | 5 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 10 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 35.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.3% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.3% | 18.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.3% | 5.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Lower than 70% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Lower than 61% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Higher than 1% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 8.3 | 20.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Higher than 2% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 5.9 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 1st highest of 5 state primary schools in Barnard Castle. Higher than 96% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 40.0% | 13.1%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Questions parents ask
What is Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School's Ofsted rating?
Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 25 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 7 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School do in its SATs?
DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Would parents recommend Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School?
83% of the 18 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 5 families put Bowes Hutchinson's CofE (Aided) School as their first choice for 5 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 5 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 114237.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.