Woodhouse Primary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 50 of its 176 pupils (28.4%) were getting SEN support and 2 (1.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 176 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in County Durham.
28.4% get SEN support
50 of 176 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.1% have an EHC plan
2 of 176 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health22
- Moderate learning difficulty16
- Speech, language and communication7
- Autism5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 176 (places for 230)
- Headteacher
- Ms Alex Lawrance
- Part of
- Advance Learning Partnership
- Free school meals
- 64.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- County Durham
- School reference (URN)
- 151430
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask County Durham council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Requires improvement, April 2023; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (November 2019)
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in April 2023.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Early yearsRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, November 2019).
Contact and getting there
Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6QW
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Bishop Barrington Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Evergreen Primary School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Timothy Hackworth Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.0 miles
- Oakwood Learning Centre Independent · Ages 8–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.6%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.4 miles
- St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 10.3%, EHC plans 1.3% 0.6 miles
- St Anne's CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.9%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in County Durham SEND schools in County Durham
Questions about Woodhouse Primary Academy
How many pupils at Woodhouse Primary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 50 of the 176 pupils (28.4%) were getting SEN support and 2 (1.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Woodhouse Primary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (22 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (16 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Woodhouse Primary Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Woodhouse Primary Academy?
Through County Durham council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Woodhouse Primary Academy?
You can ask for Woodhouse Primary Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Woodhouse Primary Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Bishop Barrington Academy, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Woodhouse Primary Academy?
Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6QW, in County Durham.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.