SchoolScoresDarlinghurst Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of LEGRA ACADEMY TRUST
Pavilion Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 3JS
01702 478379 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 June 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 29 January 2025: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
79 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Leigh-on-Sea comparisons use the 4 of its 12 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Leigh-on-Sea | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 70% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 63% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 50 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 65% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 82% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 48% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 58% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 67% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Leigh-on-Sea figures pool parents at the Leigh-on-Sea schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
62 pupils in this year group.
68% — 6 points above the Southend-on-Sea average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Southend-on-Sea | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 68% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 73% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 74% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Southend-on-Sea. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 61 |
| Of those, offered a place | 55 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 141 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Southend-on-Sea | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.6% | 25.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.4%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 14.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.9% | 17.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Lower than 39% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.7% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Lower than 41% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.6 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 11th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Lower than 36% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.18% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 68% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.1 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 80% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.7 | 11.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 12 state primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea. Higher than 31% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 7.8% | 12.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chalkwell Hall Infant School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Chalkwell Hall Junior School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Blenheim Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020), confirmed 2025 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Saint Pierre School 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Leigh North Street Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Leigh Infant School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024
- West Leigh Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Eastwood Primary School and Nursery 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's School 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Darlinghurst Academy's Ofsted rating?
Darlinghurst Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 June 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 29 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
How did Darlinghurst Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Darlinghurst Academy?
95% of the 79 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Darlinghurst Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Darlinghurst Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 61 families put Darlinghurst Academy as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 55 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 140536.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.