Firthmoor Primary School, Darlington

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Firthmoor Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Most pupils make secure progress through the curriculum from their different starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils typically attend school regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Since the previous inspection, leaders have redeveloped the curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a positive start in the Nursery Year."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that inclusion is a priority for all."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance know the school's strengths and areas for development well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have recently introduced a highly ambitious and comprehensive approach to pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should support staff to further embed the implementation of recent curriculum changes so that pupils' knowledge builds more securely over time"; "Leaders should ensure that rigorous checks on pupils' understanding are consistently carried out throughout lessons and over time, enabling misconceptions to be addressed promptly and helping pupils to apply and retain key knowledge more accurately"; "Leaders should further embed the personal development programme so that pupils consistently demonstrate mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths, backgrounds and beliefs"; "Leaders need to continue to actively address incidents of bullying so that all pupils feel that they belong and are welcome".

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Firthmoor Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 76% in Darlington and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 76% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Firthmoor Primary School as their first choice and 67 named it as one of their preferences, for 32 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Firthmoor Primary School are St Teresa's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 97% maths); St John's Church of England Academy (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 77% reading, 77% maths); The Rydal Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 62% reading, 60% maths); and Heathfield Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 72% maths).

Firthmoor Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Firthmoor Primary School is one of 12 schools run by Northern Lights Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 85% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Firthmoor Primary School (as of April 2026): 75% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).

50.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 10.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Black (10%).

In 2026, 64 pupils (22.9%) received SEN support and 6 (2.2%) 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 Darlington Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Maidendale House (o), 120 metres away.

In 2024/25, Firthmoor Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 2.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Firthmoor Primary School are St Aidan's Church of England Academy (0.8 miles) and Haughton Academy (1.8 miles).