Hurworth School, Darlington

In its own words: "Hurworth School: where students are at the heart of everything we do. At Hurworth School, we are committed to providing a safe, supportive and inspiring environment where every student is known, valued and encouraged to succeed."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is an honour to welcome you to Hurworth School and to be able to share the success of our students with you. We strive to ensure that all students achieve their very best academically, we are convinced that it is crucial to offer students the opportunity to develop and grow into confident, resilient, and exceptional young people."

In 2026, pupils at Hurworth School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in Darlington and 47 across England.

36% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Darlington and 47% in England.

That is down from 49.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.12: 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 28.9, against 48.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 110 families put Hurworth School as their first choice and 207 named it as one of their preferences, for 118 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Hurworth School are Polam Hall School (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.9); St Aidan's Church of England Academy (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); Carmel College (3.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 52.7); and Hummersknott Academy (3.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.7).

Hurworth School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Hurworth School is one of 6 schools run by Northern Arch Learning Partnership, an academy trust.

Of the 123 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

1.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 108 pupils (17.4%) received SEN support and 45 (7.2%) 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.

Hurworth School has a resourced provision for autism: 15 places, 15 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Darlington Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elmfield Road (i), 160 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hurworth School 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 18 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Darlington (281).

In 2024/25, Hurworth School issued 289 suspensions, 44.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Hurworth School are Hurworth Primary School (0.5 miles) and Croft Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.