Best Primary Schools in Darlington 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 29 schools across Darlington. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Darlington has 29 primary schools, of which 1 (3%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 26 rated Good — 93% of primary schools in Darlington are rated Good or Outstanding overall. St John's Church of England Academy currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in Darlington follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

29
Total schools
1
Outstanding
3%
Outstanding rate
64.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
34.9
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 St John's Church of England Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
🥈 St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
🥉 Hurworth Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
4. Abbey Infants' School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
5. Mowden Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
6. Springfield Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
7. Abbey Junior School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
8. Mowden Junior School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
9. Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
10. Mount Pleasant Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
11. Bishopton Redmarshall CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
12. Gurney Pease Academy
Primary
 Good 77 View school
13. St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
14. Corporation Road Community Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
15. Heighington Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
16. Heathfield Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school
17. Whinfield Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school
18. West Park Academy
Primary
 Good 74 View school
19. Firthmoor Primary School
Primary
 Good 71 View school
20. High Coniscliffe CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 71 View school

Related lists for Darlington

All schools in DarlingtonPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in DarlingtonYear 7 onwards Outstanding schools in Darlington1 school rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in Darlington

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Darlington?
There are 29 primary schools in Darlington, of which 1 (3%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in Darlington?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in Darlington is St John's Church of England Academy. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in Darlington?
Primary and secondary school applications in Darlington are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the Darlington council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in Darlington?
3% of primary schools in Darlington are rated Outstanding and 90% are rated Good. 84.8% are rated Good or Outstanding.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.