SchoolScoresIndependent school guide

St John's CofE Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Part of DURHAM AND NEWCASTLE DIOCESAN LEARNING TRUST

Fenby Avenue, Lascelles Park, Darlington, DL1 4UB

01325 380725 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 6 October 2022
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths70%England 62% · 2024/25
Pupils249Room for 210
First-choice applications per place1.647 for 30 places, September 2026

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 6 October 2022.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

30 pupils in this year group.

70% — 8 points above the Darlington average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDarlingtonEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 70% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 10% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 77% 72% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 83% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 77% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 80%This school 2023/24: 60%This school 2024/25: 70% This school England 62% 2022/23 80% 2023/24 60% 2024/25 70%

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 Darlington. 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered30
Families who put it first47
Of those, offered a place30 (64%)
Families who listed it at all99

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.6

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.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Darlington

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolDarlingtonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
 44.1% 29.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
 2.0% 3.3%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
 16.1% 14.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
 5.2% 11.3%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
 4.6% 5.5%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
 22.7% 14.8%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
 0.4 3.8 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
 0.4% 1.5% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.05% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
 25.4 21.7 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
 10.6 11.2 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
 11.1% 13.8%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St John's CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?

St John's CofE Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 October 2022.

How did St John's CofE Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points above the England average of 62%.

Is St John's CofE Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 47 families put St John's CofE Academy as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 30 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.