Academy converter · Northumberland

NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary School

2–11Ages
372Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
148765URN

Central Parkway, Newbiggin-By-the-Sea, NE64 6RT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.1per place

0.4 below Northumberland median (1.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Northumberland

39 applications for 35 places · 63rd of 65 in Northumberland

Every year since 2022

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

24%met the expected standard

Northumberland 64% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 2 July 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
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

1.1applications per place, Reception

0.4 below Northumberland median (1.5) 1.1 below England median (2.2)

39 applications · 35 places offered · 36 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.1; Northumberland median median 1.5
2025 1.1; Northumberland median median 1.6
2024 1.1; Northumberland median median 1.6
2023 1.1; Northumberland median median 1.5
2022 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Northumberland median in 0 of 5 years.

This school
Northumberland 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	35	39	1.1	36	1.03
Sep 2025	53	58	1.1	52	0.98
Sep 2024	35	39	1.1	34	0.97
Sep 2023	44	47	1.1	44	1.00
Sep 2022	56	57	1.0	56	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 44% · Writing 46% · Maths 37% → all three 24% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard24%57th of 57 in Northumberland

Northumberland 64% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard44%

Northumberland 79% England 78%

Higher standard13%

Northumberland 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 98 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard46%

Northumberland 76% England 75%

Greater depth4%

Northumberland 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard37%

Northumberland 76% England 77%

Higher standard6%

Northumberland 18% England 24%

Average scaled score 98 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Northumberland median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	24%	2%	98	98
2023/24	38%	2%	100	99
2022/23	67%	4%	104	104

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

NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2024

1.1applications per place 24%met the SATs standard
NCEA Bishop's Primary School
1.7 km · Northumberland

Good2022

1.5applications per place 36%met the SATs standard
NCEA Thomas Bewick C of E Primary School
1.8 km · Northumberland

Good2024

1.8applications per place 41%met the SATs standard
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Ashington
1.8 km · Northumberland

Standards maintained2025

1.6applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Central Academy
2.7 km · Northumberland

Good2023
NCEA James Knott CofE Primary School
2.9 km · Northumberland

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.7applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
NCEA William Leech CofE Primary School
3.4 km · Northumberland

Good2024

1.0applications per place 29%met the SATs standard
Bothal Academy
3.9 km · Northumberland

Outstanding2023
Stakeford Primary School
3.9 km · Northumberland

Good2024

1.5applications per place 32%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 148765 · 929/2013
Trust: Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 594 pupils · 372 on roll
Free school meals: 42.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2021
Address: Central Parkway, Newbiggin-By-the-Sea, NE64 6RT
Local authority: Northumberland

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