St John's Church of England Academy, Darlington
St John's Church of England Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Darlington, part of Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 17th-highest of the 29 schools in Darlington with published results, and 7,353rd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.6 first-choice applications for every place. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2022)
- Demand
- 1.6 first choices per place
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Darlington (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St John's Church of England Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St John's Church of England Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 77% 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 77% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St John's Church of England Academy
For September 2026 entry, 47 families put St John's Church of England Academy as their first choice and 99 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.6 first choices for every place. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St John's Church of England Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John's Church of England Academy are The Rydal Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 62% reading, 60% maths); St Teresa's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 97% maths); Firthmoor Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 76% maths); and Heathfield Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 72% maths).
St John's Church of England Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
The Rydal AcademySt Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolFirthmoor Primary SchoolHeathfield Primary School
The trust
St John's Church of England Academy is one of 22 schools run by Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 22 schools in Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust
Who goes there
5.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Black (10%).
In 2026, 45 pupils (18.1%) received SEN support and 5 (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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darlington Rail Station, about 1050 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rosemary Court (i), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St John's Church of England Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St John's Church of England Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St John's Church of England Academy are St Aidan's Church of England Academy (0.7 miles), Polam Hall School (1.1 miles) and Haughton Academy (1.7 miles).
St Aidan's Church of England AcademyPolam Hall SchoolHaughton Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its October 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
Rated Good for
Early years.
At a Glance
32.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 67% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 87% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.0
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
10
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St John's Church of England Academy
Year 4 - Rugby Festival
1 Oct 2026
Year 6 - Rugby Festival
28 Sep 2026
Year 2 - Technology from the Past
9 Sep 2026
Year 2 - Natural Art
9 Sep 2026
Year 6 - Class of 2026 Leaver’s Performance
21 Jul 2026
Year 3 - Pneumatic Monsters
20 Jul 2026
From St John's Church of England Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with St John's Church of England Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John's Church of England Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John's Church of England Academy is in Darlington; for families living there:
- Darlington's school travel policy: Home to school travel and transport policy
- How to apply: Apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Darlington is 9 (the median across 48 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St John's Church of England Academy
Will you get a place at St John's Church of England Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St John's Church of England Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St John's Church of England Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St John's Church of England Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Darlington, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St John's Church of England Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Darlington got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
206 pupils
210 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Darlington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Darlington
Across Darlington council
Places available
1,260
Applications
1,075
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Darlington council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: 1.6 first choices per place
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
45
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
20.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
249
Total Pupils
124
Boys
125
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
24.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,035
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,067
Per pupil
£1423k
Total funding
£117k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
22.7%
Persistent absence
207
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St John's Church of England Academy
Questions parents ask about St John's Church of England Academy
What are SATs results like at St John's Church of England Academy?
Of the pupils at St John's Church of England Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is St John's Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?
St John's Church of England Academy was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2022.
What is the catchment area for St John's Church of England Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St John's Church of England Academy is oversubscribed, Darlington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St John's Church of England Academy?
St John's Church of England Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St John's Church of England Academy?
Classes at St John's Church of England Academy average 25 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St John's Church of England Academy?
St John's Church of England Academy has around 249 pupils on roll. 33% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John's Church of England Academy?
4.6% of sessions were missed at St John's Church of England Academy in 2024/25. 22.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John's Church of England Academy?
Apply through Darlington's coordinated admissions process, naming St John's Church of England Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St John's Church of England Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Darlington is 9 (the median across 48 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St John's Church of England Academy?
St John's Church of England Academy is at Fenby Avenue, Lascelles Park, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 4UB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)