Haughton Academy, Darlington
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Haughton Academy excels at caring for all its pupils and making sure vulnerable children get the support they need to succeed. The school has created a calm, purposeful learning environment with high expectations where most pupils conduct themselves well. Teachers know their pupils intimately and work closely with families and external agencies to remove barriers to learning.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusion and support systems for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs
- Well-structured personal development programme covering online safety, British values, and community engagement
- Effective leadership with high expectations and strong staff support, including professional development
- Clear behaviour expectations with low-level disruption in lessons and swift response to bullying
Areas for Improvement
- A significant minority of pupils have poor attendance which impacts their achievement
- Some pupils do not achieve highly enough in national tests and examinations
- Support for pupils with behavioural difficulties is not improving their behaviour quickly enough, leading to repeat suspensions
- Not all teachers consistently check pupils understand subject vocabulary and use it in their writing
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Swimming, badminton, school choir, school performances, crafters club, fashion design, chess club, young chefs cooking club, musical theatre, youth group, student council, prefects, form captains, work experience
Haughton Academy is an expected standard school that has made recent improvements to teaching and curriculum delivery, though these changes are still embedding. The school provides strong support for vulnerable pupils and has an open, caring culture where safeguarding is prioritized.
At a Glance
42.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.6
Avg class size
38
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
854 pupils
900 capacity
46 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Darlington
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Darlington
Admissions Demand - Darlington
Places available
1,375
Applications
1,137
Got 1st preference
91.8%
Got preferred school
98.9%
Secondary admissions across Darlington (2025/26)
Inspection History(110)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.33474%
Overall absence
29.60172%
Persistent absence
929
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Haughton Academy
Springfield Academy
Whinfield Primary School
St Bede's Catholic Primary School
Red Hall Primary School
Gurney Pease Academy
Northwood Primary School
Harrowgate Hill Primary School
Heathfield Primary School
Corporation Road Community Primary School
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.