Carmel College, Darlington

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Carmel College we strive to have the highest expectations in all that we do, not only preserving our reputation for excellence but also continuously seeking ways to strengthen it."

In 2026, pupils at Carmel College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 52.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in Darlington and 47 across England.

54% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Darlington and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 53.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.38: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 45.4, against 55.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 305 families put Carmel College as their first choice and 511 named it as one of their preferences, for 216 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 90 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Carmel College are Hummersknott Academy (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.7); Wyvern Academy (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 41.3); Polam Hall School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.9); and Longfield Academy (2.1 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 39.8).

Carmel College's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Carmel College is one of 35 schools run by Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.1 in 2024/25.

136 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Carmel College (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).

Of the 210 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 18% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 139 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 56% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 18% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 165 pupils (12.1%) received SEN support and 39 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is North Road Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Hild Close (i), 250 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Carmel College stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 105 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Darlington (281).

In 2024/25, Carmel College issued 21 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Carmel College are Mowden Infant School (0.3 miles), Mowden Junior School (0.4 miles), Abbey Junior School (0.4 miles) and Abbey Infants' School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.