Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 3–11 · Bishop Auckland, County Durham
Last distance offered · Reception 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From Durham County Council · offers on 16 April 2026
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law is a primary school in Bishop Auckland, County Durham for ages 3–11 (academy converter). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Not judged, from the inspection on 28 January 2025. County Durham has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2026 entry.
Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School, Tow Law catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Reception 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- Every applicant was offered a Reception place in 2026, with 7 first-choice applications for 7 offers; 12 places are published for Reception 2027.
- There are 16.9 pupils per teacher, against a middle figure of 21.1 across the 8 nearest primary schools in County Durham.
- In 2024/25, 11% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 62%), lowest of 9 schools: this one and the 8 nearest primary schools in County Durham.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other County Durham schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Smith Street, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, DL13 4AU
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3–11
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Council
- County Durham
- Pupils on roll
- 83 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 32.5% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 16.9
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Not judged Inspected 28 January 2025
Strengths
- “Pupils thrive in the family atmosphere of this small, friendly school.”
- “Staff have created a nurturing environment for all pupils.”
- “They know the pupils and families well.”
To improve
- “However, the school recognises that the new curriculum needs further embedding.”
- “Presently, the school does not have a clear enough understanding of the difference that the new curriculum is making to pupils’ learning.”
- “Improving attendance to be consistently in line with the national average is a school priority.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 13 March 2025 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 11% | 62% |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 7 first-preference applications, 7 offers in total, 7 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in County Durham.
- Tow Law Millennium Primary School 0.6 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Peases West Academy 2.7 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Wolsingham Primary School 2.9 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Stanley (Crook) Primary School 3.0 mi School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next Last distance published
- Hartside Primary Academy 3.2 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Crook Primary School 3.6 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Crook 3.7 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Esh Winning Academy 4.3 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published