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OpenAll-throughOfsted: Expected standardURN 142174

Polam Hall School

Free schools · Darlington · DL1 5PA

Ages 4–16 · 842 pupils · Darlington

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

Attainment 8

42.0

Overall absence

8.7%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2025-11-25

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.05
−20+2
Attainment 842.0
English & maths grade 5+35%
English & maths grade 4+54%
EBacc entry37%

EBacc APS: 3.8

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)63%
Higher standard (RWM)8%
Avg scaled score — reading
106.0
Avg scaled score — maths
107.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
107.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence8.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)26.2%
Unauthorised2.1%
Authorised absence
6.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.3%
Enrolments in measure
806

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

108

Places offered

108

1st-preference offers

103

Total preferences (any rank)
288
Preferred offers (top 3)
108
Applications from outside LA
6
Offers to outside-LA applicants
4

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill95%

842 pupils · 882 places

Pupils on roll
842
Boys / girls
386 / 456
School capacity
882
Capacity fill
842 / 882 (95%)
Free school meals
31.2%
FSM pupils
263
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 4–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: WOODARD ACADEMIES TRUST
Academy trust
WOODARD ACADEMIES TRUST
Sponsor
Woodard Academies Trust
Headteacher
Principal Kate Reid

Location

Address
Grange Road
Postcode
DL1 5PA
Town
Darlington
County
County Durham
Local authority
Darlington
District
Darlington
Constituency
Darlington
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

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

Mixed free schools (all-through), Ages 4–16, in Darlington, Darlington, 842 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 31.2%.

Open schools in Darlington
49
All-through schools in Darlington
1
Academies among open schools in Darlington
76% (37)
Open schools in DL1
18
All-through in DL1
1
Open schools in Darlington LA
48
All-through in Darlington LA
1

Nearby all-through schools

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

Compare with theseAll in DarlingtonNear DL1

  • Skerne Park Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Darlington · DL1 5AJ · Darlington

    Ages 2–11

    • KS215%
    • Absence8.3%
    • FSM57.3%
    • Demand1.00

    0.6 miles away

  • Abbey Infants' School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL3 8JA · Darlington

    Ages 4–7

    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM3.0%
    • Demand0.96

    0.6 miles away

  • George Dent Nursery School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Local authority nursery school · Nursery

    Darlington · DL3 7PY · Darlington

    Ages 2–5

    • FSM0.0%

    0.7 miles away

  • Borough Road Nursery School

    Ofsted: Good

    Local authority nursery school · Nursery

    Darlington · DL1 1SG · Darlington

    Ages 2–5

    • FSM0.0%

    0.7 miles away

  • Abbey Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL3 8NN · Darlington

    Ages 7–11

    • KS262%
    • Absence3.6%
    • FSM9.4%

    0.7 miles away

  • The Rydal Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Darlington · DL1 4BH · Darlington

    Ages 2–11

    • KS233%
    • Absence8.8%
    • FSM51.6%
    • Demand0.81

    0.9 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Principal Kate Reid
Telephone
01325463383
Website
https://www.phs.woodard.co.uk/

Official links