Staindrop Academy, Darlington
Staindrop Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Darlington, part of Advance Learning Partnership. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2021. That was 5 years ago, so the rating may not reflect the school today. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 3rd-highest of the 9 schools in Darlington with published results, and 1,344th of 3,298 across England. It was 61% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2021)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
- Progress (2024)
- Below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to County Durham (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Staindrop Academy in detail
Staindrop Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Our ethos is built upon a tradition of excellence for the wellbeing, achievements, aspirations and success of our young people. Every child matters at Staindrop and we want them to be happy, valued and successful to fulfil their potential and develop the skills and attributes to succeed in their next steps."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Staindrop Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in County Durham and 47 across England.
52% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in County Durham and 47% in England.
That is up from 45.6 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.16: pupils made below 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 43.2, against 49.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 6 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Information and Communication Technology, Combined Science and History.
Getting a place at Staindrop Academy
For September 2026 entry, 94 families put Staindrop Academy as their first choice and 171 named it as one of their preferences, for 95 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
The trust
Staindrop Academy is one of 23 schools run by Advance Learning Partnership, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.3 in 2024/25.
What parents say
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Staindrop Academy (as of April 2026): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 56 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 75% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.
Who goes there
0.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 114 pupils (22.6%) received SEN support and 21 (4.2%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Staindrop Academy.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cleatlam Lane outside school (nw-bound), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 7 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 County Durham (84).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Staindrop Academy issued 25 suspensions, 5.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; 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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2021 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
About
Staindrop Academy is a coeducational secondary school located in Staindrop, County Durham, England.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
30.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
33 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has improved from -0.37 to -0.16 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 46.5 to 47.7 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 41% to 52% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 47.7 | 52% |
| Disadvantaged(19) | - | 43.2 | 42.1% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(56) | - | 49.2 | 55.4% |
| Boys(36) | - | 47.8 | 55.6% |
| Girls(39) | - | 47.6 | 48.7% |
Show more breakdowns (1)
| Non mobile(72) | - | 47.2 | 51.4% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 56 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
1
Permanent exclusions
0.21%
Exclusion rate
25
Suspensions
5.33%
Suspension rate
13 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 469 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby secondary school
Keep up with Staindrop Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Staindrop Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Staindrop Academy is in County Durham; for families living there:
- County Durham's school travel policy: School transport policies and strategies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school travel
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 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 Staindrop Academy
Will you get a place at Staindrop Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Staindrop Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Staindrop Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Staindrop Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from County Durham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Staindrop Academy for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in County Durham 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
61%
Available places
469 pupils
771 places
302 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 County Durham council
Places available
5,720
Applications
4,986
Got 1st preference
94.2%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across County Durham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
114
SEN Support
21
EHC Plans
26.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
504
Total Pupils
244
Boys
260
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
16.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,104
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,304
Per pupil
£3718k
Total funding
£146k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.1%
Overall absence
28.5%
Persistent absence
495
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Staindrop Academy
Questions parents ask about Staindrop Academy
What are GCSE results like at Staindrop Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Staindrop Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 47.7. 52% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Staindrop Academy's Ofsted rating?
Staindrop Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2021, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Staindrop Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Staindrop Academy is oversubscribed, County Durham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Staindrop Academy?
Staindrop Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 61% of its 771 places.
How big are the classes at Staindrop Academy?
Classes at Staindrop Academy average 23 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Staindrop Academy?
Staindrop Academy has around 504 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Staindrop Academy?
10.1% of sessions were missed at Staindrop Academy in 2024/25. 28.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Staindrop Academy?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Staindrop Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Staindrop Academy?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Staindrop Academy?
Staindrop Academy is at Cleatlam Lane, Staindrop, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3JU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)