Highcroft School
School summary
Highcroft School is a notably small independent school in Bishop Auckland, with around 11 pupils on roll. Its tiny size means a setting where every child is known individually and teaching can be closely tailored to the pupil in front of the teacher. The school is co-educational, takes pupils from age 11 and is led by headteacher Mr David Laheney. It holds no religious character and does not offer boarding.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Free month · No payment needed
Teaching & academics
Entry at age 11 includes an 11+ assessment, so families considering Highcroft should expect a selective element to admission. With so few pupils on roll, classes are inevitably very small, which lends itself to individual attention and a personalised approach to learning. The school is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
Head · Mr David Laheney
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
Schools nearby
Embleton View
Darlington, North East
Pear Tree School
Darlington, North East
Oakwood Learning Centre
Darlington, North East
Barnard Castle School
Barnard Castle, North East
The Grange Learning Centre
Low Willington, North East
Forest Park School
Newton Aycliffe, North East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A genuinely small independent school for families who value a close-knit, individually focused environment over the scale of a larger institution.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
Free month · No payment needed
Highcroft School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.