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OpenOfsted: GoodURN 139691

Marchbank Free School

Free schools special · Darlington · DL3 9BL

Ages 5–11 · 63 pupils · Darlington

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

6%

Overall absence

10.2%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-01-23

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)6%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Avg scaled score — reading
102.0
Avg scaled score — maths
92.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
101.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence10.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)24.1%
Unauthorised5.6%
Authorised absence
4.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.6%
Enrolments in measure
54

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill97%

63 pupils · 65 places

Pupils on roll
63
Boys / girls
53 / 10
School capacity
65
Capacity fill
63 / 65 (97%)
Free school meals
66.7%
FSM pupils
42
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools special

Age range

Ages 5–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: THE EDUCATION VILLAGE ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
THE EDUCATION VILLAGE ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher
Mrs Caroline Green

Location

Address
Mowden Hall, Barnes Road
Postcode
DL3 9BL
Town
Darlington
County
County Durham
Local authority
Darlington
District
Darlington
Constituency
Darlington
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
65 on roll / 65 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools special, Ages 5–11, in Darlington, Darlington, 63 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: special school. Free school meals: 66.7%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

Open schools in Darlington
49
Academies among open schools in Darlington
76% (37)
Open schools in DL3
20
Open schools in Darlington LA
48

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in DarlingtonNear DL3

  • Mowden Junior School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL3 9DE · Darlington

    Ages 7–11

    • KS276%
    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM12.9%

    0.1 miles away

  • Mowden Infant School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL3 9QG · Darlington

    Ages 5–7

    • Absence4.2%
    • FSM8.9%
    • Demand0.93

    0.2 miles away

  • Wyvern Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Darlington · DL3 9SH · Darlington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att839.7
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+26%
    • Absence7.8%

    0.4 miles away

  • Holy Family Catholic Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL3 9EN · Darlington

    Ages 3–11

    • KS274%
    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM12.8%
    • Demand1.37

    0.5 miles away

  • Carmel College

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Darlington · DL3 8RW · Darlington

    Ages 11–18

    • Att853.6
    • P80.4
    • EM5+63%
    • Absence7.4%

    0.5 miles away

  • Mount Pleasant Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL3 9HE · Darlington

    Ages 2–11

    • KS264%
    • Absence6.8%
    • FSM56.1%
    • Demand1.17

    0.6 miles away

  • Hummersknott Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Darlington · DL3 8AR · Darlington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att845.7
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence7.7%

    0.7 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Caroline Green
Telephone
01325254670
Website
www.educationvillage.org.uk

Official links