Academy converter · Darlington

St John's Church of England Academy

2–11Ages
249Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
138128URN

Fenby Avenue, Lascelles Park, Darlington, DL1 4UB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2022 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.3per place

1.2 above Darlington median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Darlington

99 applications for 30 places · 3rd of 25 in Darlington

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

70%met the expected standard

Darlington 68% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 6 October 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.3applications per place, Reception

1.2 above Darlington median (2.1) 1.1 above England median (2.2)

99 applications · 30 places offered · 47 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.3; Darlington median median 2.1
2025 2.8; Darlington median median 2.1
2024 2.7; Darlington median median 2.1
2023 1.6; Darlington median median 1.5
2022 1.8; Darlington median median 1.6
2021 1.6; Darlington median median 1.6
2020 1.5; Darlington median median 1.7
2019 2.4; Darlington median median 1.7
2018 2.5; Darlington median median 1.7
2017 2.4; Darlington median median 1.8
2016 2.8; Darlington median median 1.9
2015 2.6; Darlington median median 2.1
2014 2.9; Darlington median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Darlington median in 12 of 13 years.

This school
Darlington median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	30	99	3.3	47	1.57
Sep 2025	30	85	2.8	34	1.13
Sep 2024	30	82	2.7	41	1.37
Sep 2023	24	38	1.6	21	0.88
Sep 2022	30	55	1.8	38	1.27
Sep 2021	30	49	1.6	38	1.27
Sep 2020	30	46	1.5	32	1.07
Sep 2019	30	71	2.4	45	1.50
Sep 2018	30	75	2.5	45	1.50
Sep 2017	30	73	2.4	34	1.13
Sep 2016	30	84	2.8	44	1.47
Sep 2015	30	77	2.6	37	1.23
Sep 2014	30	88	2.9	41	1.37

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 77% · Writing 83% · Maths 77% → all three 70% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard70%12th of 27 in Darlington

Darlington 68% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard77%

Darlington 77% England 78%

Higher standard23%

Darlington 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard83%

Darlington 77% England 75%

Greater depth23%

Darlington 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard77%

Darlington 77% England 77%

Higher standard23%

Darlington 23% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Darlington median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	70%	10%	104	104
2023/24	60%	3%	102	105
2022/23	80%	7%	107	105

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St John's Church of England AcademyThis school
This school

Outstanding2022

3.3applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
The Rydal Academy
0.5 km · Darlington

Good2022

1.6applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
0.5 km · Darlington

Remains Good2024

2.2applications per place 85%met the SATs standard
Firthmoor Primary School
0.6 km · Darlington

2026

2.1applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Heathfield Primary School
1.2 km · Darlington

Standards maintained2025

2.1applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Skerne Park Academy
1.3 km · Darlington

Requires improvement2024

1.8applications per place 35%met the SATs standard
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
2.0 km · Darlington

Good2024

4.6applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Gurney Pease Academy
2.2 km · Darlington

2026

2.1applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Red Hall Primary School
2.3 km · Darlington

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 25%met the SATs standard

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.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 138128 · 841/3306
Trust: Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 249 on roll
Free school meals: 37.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 May 2012
Replaced: St John's CofE (Aided) Primary School (URN 114238)
Address: Fenby Avenue, Lascelles Park, Darlington, DL1 4UB
Local authority: Darlington

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources