Croft Church of England Primary School, Darlington
Croft Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Darlington, part of Dales Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 29 schools in Darlington with published results, and 1,036th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North Yorkshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Croft Church of England Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Croft Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 83% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Croft Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Croft Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 34 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Croft Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Croft Church of England Primary School are Hurworth Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 93% reading, 87% maths); Skerne Park Academy (2.1 miles, Requires improvement, 45% reading, 53% maths); St John's Church of England Academy (2.6 miles, Outstanding, 77% reading, 77% maths); and The Rydal Academy (2.6 miles, Good, 62% reading, 60% maths).
Croft Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Hurworth Primary SchoolSkerne Park AcademySt John's Church of England AcademyThe Rydal Academy
The trust
Croft Church of England Primary School is one of 15 schools run by Dales Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
3.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (93%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 11 pupils (9.4%) received SEN support and 4 (3.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Croft Church of England Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darlington Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Croft Church of England Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
3.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 83% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 75% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 83% to 92% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.3
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
31.5
KS2
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Croft Church of England Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Croft Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Croft Church of England Primary School is in North Yorkshire; for families living there:
Apply to North Yorkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Croft Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Croft Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Croft Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Croft Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Croft Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from North Yorkshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Croft Church of England Primary School for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in North Yorkshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
100 pupils
105 places
5 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Darlington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Darlington
Across North Yorkshire council
Places available
7,127
Applications
5,052
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across North Yorkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
12.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
117
Total Pupils
52
Boys
65
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
16.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,782
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,760
Per pupil
£619k
Total funding
£6k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.2%
Overall absence
4.7%
Persistent absence
86
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Croft Church of England Primary School
Questions parents ask about Croft Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Croft Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Croft Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 92% reached the expected standard in reading and 92% did so in maths.
What is Croft Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Croft Church of England Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2022. At its previous graded inspection in 2006 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Croft Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Croft Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Croft Church of England Primary School?
Croft Church of England Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Croft Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Croft Church of England Primary School average 29.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Croft Church of England Primary School?
Croft Church of England Primary School has around 117 pupils on roll. 3% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Croft Church of England Primary School?
3.2% of sessions were missed at Croft Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 4.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Croft Church of England Primary School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Croft Church of England Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Croft Church of England Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Croft Church of England Primary School?
Croft Church of England Primary School is at South Parade, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 2SP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)