Overall Oxbridge
#854
2 ranked schools · +60 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
29
Offers
4
Offer rate13.8%
-8.6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
Schools in Darlington
One of the largest settlements in North East England, Darlington is a market town in County Durham, sitting on the River Skerne with around 107,000 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The town's market roots run deep.
The Headlands is widely regarded as one of Darlington's most school-competitive postcodes, drawing families who compete for primary places on the eastern edge of the borough. Staindrop, to the west, is among the most sought-after catchments for parents who weigh school options alongside village character and open countryside. Hurworth-on-Tees and Croft-on-Tees extend the appeal southward along the River Tees. The East Coast Main Line runs through the town centre, reaching Durham in around twenty minutes and Newcastle in just over thirty.
31
Primary
schools
8
Secondary
schools
1
All-through
schools
2
Post-16
colleges
6
Special
schools
1
Other
schools
of which3sixth forms·14faith·2nurseries51 total
Area Performance
Darlington schools rank in the top 49% of England
Across 42 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.27/10, -0.11 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
7% Elite
Distribution across all Darlington schools
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Darlington vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 49%
Across all ranked Darlington schools
Top 46%Primaryavg #6,895 of 14,978
Top 62%Secondaryavg #2,384 of 3,862
Top 39%Sixth formavg #988 of 2,555
Primary schools: 30 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.21 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,895
+4 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 46% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
66%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.1/10
-0.21 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,895
+4 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 46% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
66%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 9 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.06 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,384
-12 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 62% of 3,862
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
44.3
+5.2 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.06 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,384
-12 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 62% of 3,862
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
44.3
+5.2 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 3 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.5/10
+0.76 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#988
+11 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 39% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
22%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.5/10
+0.76 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#988
+11 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 39% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
22%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#287
2 ranked schools · -34 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
Applications
15
Offers
0
Offer rate0.0%
-15.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#721
2 ranked schools · +52 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,880
Applications
14
Offers
4
Offer rate28.6%
-0.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Darlington
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Darlington
Top 2 Sixth Forms
2026
Darlington
Local directory
School profiles in Darlington
Browse 42 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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