Skerne Park Academy, Darlington
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Skerne Park Academy has worked hard to redesign its curriculum with a clear focus on building knowledge step-by-step from Reception to Year 6. The school has brought in specialist leaders for different year groups and subjects to drive improvement, and is providing teachers with better guidance to help pupils learn. The school is also strengthening pupils' understanding of British values through both lessons and wider school activities.
Key Strengths
- Curriculum has been carefully redesigned and structured to build knowledge and skills progressively from early years to Year 6
- Teachers are receiving increased guidance and support to deliver the curriculum effectively
- Teachers are beginning to check pupil understanding across a wider range of subjects
- New phase-specific leaders and subject leaders have brought focus and energy to school improvement
- Greater focus on British values in the curriculum and school life
Areas for Improvement
- Year 6 attainment in reading, writing and mathematics remains significantly below the national average
- Knowledge gaps persist, particularly in pupils' early language and social skills
- Improvements in curriculum delivery are not yet fully embedded across the school
- Quality assurance processes need to be more consistently focused to better track impact of improvements
- Some aspects of quality assurance could be stronger
Skerne Park Academy is a school that has made progress since its last inspection under new leadership, with curriculum redesign and additional support structures put in place. However, the school still needs further improvement in embedding these changes and closing knowledge gaps that persist from the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a Glance
57.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 38% to 45%. Maths has improved from 38% to 53%. Writing has improved from 19% to 55%.
Class Sizes
22.2
Avg class size
24.0
Infant (KS1)
22.6
KS2
12
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
59%
Available places
248 pupils
420 capacity
172 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Darlington
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Darlington
Admissions Demand - Darlington
Places available
1,260
Applications
1,063
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
98.9%
Primary admissions across Darlington (2025/26)
Inspection History(106)
House Prices
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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
8.53373%
Overall absence
27.08333%
Persistent absence
240
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Skerne Park Academy
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