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Local authority · North East

Schools in Darlington

  • 43State-funded schools
  • 30Primary
  • 8Secondary
  • 2Special
  • North EastRegion
Applications per placeCircle size: applications
First choice · secondary 2026
92%
8 pts above England (84%)
1,134 families applied
First choice · primary 2026
93%
close to England (92%)
1,075 families applied
Applications per place · secondary
1.7
0.6 below England median (2.2)
Median school
New Ofsted report cards
8of 43 schools
Results by area

How hard is it to get a place here?

DfE · families living in Darlington
Secondary (Year 7) · Sept 2026
92%got their first choice
8 pts above England (84%)

1,134 applicants · 1.3% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 92%; England 84%
  2. 2025 92%; England 84%
  3. 2024 96%; England 83%
  4. 2023 89%; England 83%
  5. 2022 93%; England 83%
  6. 2021 92%; England 81%
  7. 2020 88%; England 82%
  8. 2019 84%; England 81%
  9. 2018 85%; England 82%
  10. 2017 84%; England 83%
  11. 2016 86%; England 84%
  12. 2015 86%; England 84%
  13. 2014 86%; England 85%
  • Darlington
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20261,13491.5%98.7%1.3%
Sep 20251,13791.8%98.9%1.1%
Sep 20241,19695.6%99.2%0.8%
Sep 20231,24488.7%96.8%3.2%
Sep 20221,18093.1%98.5%1.5%
Sep 20211,20991.7%98.0%2.0%
Sep 20201,21587.8%97.2%2.8%
Sep 20191,12583.6%94.0%6.0%
Sep 20181,10285.0%94.1%5.9%
Sep 20171,12283.8%91.8%8.2%
Sep 20161,12385.8%94.7%5.3%
Sep 20151,12985.7%93.9%6.1%
Sep 20141,08886.3%95.6%4.4%
Primary (Reception) · Sept 2026
93%got their first choice
close to England (92%)

1,075 applicants · 1.2% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 93%; England 92%
  2. 2025 96%; England 93%
  3. 2024 93%; England 93%
  4. 2023 97%; England 92%
  5. 2022 92%; England 92%
  6. 2021 98%; England 92%
  7. 2020 98%; England 90%
  8. 2019 96%; England 91%
  9. 2018 95%; England 91%
  10. 2017 93%; England 90%
  11. 2016 91%; England 88%
  12. 2015 88%; England 88%
  13. 2014 90%; England 88%
  • Darlington
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20261,07592.7%98.6%1.2%
Sep 20251,06396.3%98.8%1.1%
Sep 20241,09893.3%98.3%1.4%
Sep 20231,06797.0%99.2%0.8%
Sep 20221,14092.5%97.0%2.9%
Sep 20211,05297.6%99.3%0.6%
Sep 20201,13097.7%99.0%0.9%
Sep 20191,17495.9%99.5%0.5%
Sep 20181,16995.3%98.8%1.2%
Sep 20171,12192.9%98.3%1.3%
Sep 20161,24091.2%98.3%1.3%
Sep 20151,28688.3%96.0%3.0%
Sep 20141,26789.6%96.5%3.1%

What has Ofsted found here?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report cards 8 schools of 43 · since November 2025

  • Inclusion
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Achievement
  • Attendance and behaviour
  • Personal development and wellbeing
  • Early years (5)
  • Leadership and governance

One dot per school.

Overall grade from Ofsted's previous framework 29 schools · graded 2011 to 2024

  • Outstanding2
  • Good26
  • Requires improvement1
  • Inadequate0

Includes grades confirmed by a later ungraded inspection. Not comparable with report cards.

Graded 2024/25, no overall grade 5 schools

Key judgementOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of education14––
Behaviour and attitudes14––
Personal development23––
Leadership and management14––

Not yet inspected (new or reorganised schools): 1.

Latest report cards

Every new report card, month by month · RSS for Darlington

Secondary schools in Darlington

8 schools · Year 7 entry 2026

Change the order (visual only)

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sorted by Attainment 8, highest first.

Sorted by the date of the latest Ofsted inspection, newest first.

Sorted by name.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeAttainment 8FSM
Polam Hall School 2025 2.7 applications per place 45.9 31%
Carmel College Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 2.4 applications per place 52.7 19%
Hurworth School Good2022 1.8 applications per place 42.4 26%
Hummersknott Academy 2026 1.7 applications per place 50.7 25%
Wyvern Academy Good2023 1.7small intake applications per place 41.3 47%
Longfield Academy Graded · no overall grade2024 1.6 applications per place 39.8 39%
Haughton Academy 2026 1.6 applications per place 42.3 43%
St Aidan's Church of England Academy Faith Some aspects not as strong2025 1.5 applications per place 41.6 45%

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Primary schools in Darlington

30 schools · Reception entry 2026

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeSATs standardFSM
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School Faith Good2024 4.6 applications per place 71% 7%
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Faith Remains Good2023 3.8 applications per place 77% 13%
St John's Church of England Academy Faith Outstanding2022 3.3 applications per place 70% 37%
St Mary's Cockerton Church of England Primary School Faith Good2023 3.2 applications per place 37% 30%
Mowden Infant School Remains Good2023 3.0 applications per place – 9%
Springfield Academy 2026 2.7 applications per place 79% 42%
Abbey Infants' School Good2022 2.5 applications per place – 3%
Hurworth Primary School Remains Good2023 2.5 applications per place 83% 11%
High Coniscliffe CofE Primary School Faith Good2022 2.3small intake applications per place 62% 17%
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 2.2 applications per place 85% 11%
Harrowgate Hill Primary School 2026 2.2 applications per place 48% 32%
West Park Academy Remains Good2024 2.1 applications per place 67% 13%
Gurney Pease Academy 2026 2.1 applications per place 73% 51%
Firthmoor Primary School 2026 2.1 applications per place 62% 50%
Heathfield Primary School Standards maintained2025 2.1 applications per place 68% 31%
St Bede's Catholic Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 2.0 applications per place 64% 12%
Corporation Road Community Primary School Good2023 1.9 applications per place 71% 43%
Reid Street Primary School Remains Good2022 1.8 applications per place 57% 28%
Mount Pleasant Primary School Good2022 1.8 applications per place 76% 56%
Whinfield Primary School Remains Good2022 1.8 applications per place 68% 21%
Skerne Park Academy Requires improvement2024 1.8 applications per place 35% 57%
Heighington Church of England Primary School Faith Standards maintained2025 1.7 applications per place 69% 11%
The Rydal Academy Good2022 1.6 applications per place 46% 52%
Northwood Primary School Remains Good2024 1.6 applications per place 56% 42%
Bishopton Redmarshall CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 1.6small intake applications per place 75% 15%
St. George's Church of England Academy Faith Good2023 1.3 applications per place 57% 18%
Red Hall Primary School Graded · no overall grade2025 1.3 applications per place 25% 58%
Abbey Junior School Remains Good2023 no data 77% 9%
Mowden Junior School 2026 no data 77% 13%
Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College Not yet inspected no data – –

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

Special schools and other provision

5 schools