Polam Hall School, Darlington

In its own words: "To create flourishing young people with ambition and integrity who are equipped intellectually, morally and socially to live fulfilling lives and make positive contributions to their communities. It is our mission to build on the unique heritage of Polam Hall School in order to educate the whole child, developing leadership, compassion, character, academic ambition and achievement."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Since our foundation by Quakers in 1848, the mission of Polam Hall School has been to focus on the development of the whole child. Our motto 'Concordia Crescimus' - we grow in harmony is as relevant today as it has ever been. While Polam has changed with the times, its essential character remains."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include tennis, dance, ballet, drama, STEM, Duke of Edinburgh and cadets.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2026, pupils at Polam Hall School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in Darlington and 47 across England.

40% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Darlington and 47% in England.

That is up from 44.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.05: pupils made about 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 34, against 50.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 101 families put Polam Hall School as their first choice and 287 named it as one of their preferences, for 107 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Polam Hall School are Carmel College (1.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 52.7); St Aidan's Church of England Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); Hummersknott Academy (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.7); and Wyvern Academy (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.3).

Polam Hall School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Polam Hall School is one of 6 schools run by Woodard Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.5 in 2024/25.

138 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Polam Hall School (as of April 2026): 75% would recommend the school, 75% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (80%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).

Of the 85 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

In 2026, 90 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 20 (2.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Darlington Rail Station, about 900 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Blackwell Lane (o), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 513 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Darlington (281), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Polam Hall School issued 222 suspensions, 26.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Polam Hall School are St Augustine's Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), Skerne Park Academy (0.6 miles), Abbey Infants' School (0.6 miles) and Abbey Junior School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.