Harrowgate Hill Primary School, Darlington

Ofsted's report card from its 17 February 2026 inspection grades Harrowgate Hill Primary School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years and have a clear vision for providing high‑quality education and care."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created an inclusive culture, where pupils' individual needs are identified early and addressed with care."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils grow as confident, respectful and responsible young people."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils have not achieved as well as they should."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' attendance has been below national averages over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The effectiveness of some teaching is too variable."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders' work has not currently secured the improvements needed in key areas of the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and governors should evaluate the impact of their actions more precisely, so that improvement accelerates across the school, including in the engagement of parents and the wider community"; "Leaders should ensure teaching across the curriculum, including writing, builds pupils' knowledge and skills securely so that they develop greater independence, apply learning confidently in different contexts and achieve well over time"; "Leaders should make sure that staff quickly identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge, this includes ensuring that staff consistently provide high-quality support for older pupils who face barriers to their learning, thus enabling all pupils to be well prepared for their next steps"; "Leaders should more accurately identify and address barriers to pupils' attendance and continue to strengthen their work with families, so that attendance improves over time for all pupil groups, including those that are disadvantaged".

Coming up: an open day on Monday 26 April 2027, an open day on Tuesday 27 April 2027, an open day on Wednesday 28 April 2027 and an open day on Thursday 29 April 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Harrowgate Hill Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 66% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 76% in Darlington and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 67% in reading and 56% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Harrowgate Hill Primary School as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 27 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 Harrowgate Hill Primary School are St Bede's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 67% reading, 81% maths); Northwood Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 58% reading, 71% maths); Gurney Pease Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 80% reading, 77% maths); and Springfield Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 79% reading, 79% maths).

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

36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Harrowgate Hill Primary School (as of April 2026): 58% would recommend the school, 75% say their child is happy there and 27% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (75%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (27%).

4.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 76 pupils (18.7%) received SEN support and 5 (1.2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is North Road Rail Station, about 0.7 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lowson Street (i), 150 metres away.

In 2024/25, Harrowgate Hill Primary School issued 16 suspensions, 3.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Harrowgate Hill Primary School are Longfield Academy (0.2 miles) and Haughton Academy (0.9 miles).