Wyvern Academy, Darlington

In its own words: "We have strong links with our partner primary schools meaning when students arrive they are already familiar with many of our teachers and have visited our site to enjoy lessons here numerous times before formally joining us."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We also believe that there is more to school than qualifications, and we want to support students to become well-prepared adults. Therefore, we strive for excellence in opportunity. We offer a range of after-school clubs, trips, and activities that help students discover new interests, build confidence, and enjoy school and life beyond the classroom."

In 2026, pupils at Wyvern Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in Darlington and 47 across England.

29% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Darlington and 47% in England.

That is up from 37.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.52: pupils made well 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 35, against 49.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 50 families put Wyvern Academy as their first choice and 99 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 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 nearest other state secondary schools to Wyvern Academy are Carmel College (1 mile, Outstanding, Attainment 8 52.7); Hummersknott Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.7); Longfield Academy (1.9 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 39.8); and Polam Hall School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.9).

Wyvern Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Wyvern Academy is one of 8 schools run by Consilium Academies, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.6 in 2024/25.

Of the 81 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

47.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Asian (6%).

In 2026, 101 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 12 (2.6%) 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.

The nearest railway station is North Road Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wyvern Academy (i), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Wyvern Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 137 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, Wyvern Academy issued 224 suspensions, 44.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Wyvern Academy are Mount Pleasant Primary School (0.2 miles), St Mary's Cockerton Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles), Mowden Junior School (0.6 miles) and Mowden Infant School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.