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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 135314

St Aidan's Church of England Academy

Academy sponsor led · Darlington · DL1 1LL

Ages 11–16 · 587 pupils · Darlington

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

35.5

Overall absence

11.2%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2020-01-07

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
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 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.96
−20+2
Attainment 835.5
English & maths grade 5+25%
English & maths grade 4+48%
EBacc entry40%

EBacc APS: 3.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence11.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)36.3%
Unauthorised5.3%
Authorised absence
5.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
6.3%
Enrolments in measure
633

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

120

Places offered

127

1st-preference offers

120

Total preferences (any rank)
170
Preferred offers (top 3)
120
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

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 fill84%

587 pupils · 700 places

Pupils on roll
587
Boys / girls
308 / 279
School capacity
700
Capacity fill
587 / 700 (84%)
Free school meals
45.3%
FSM pupils
266
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

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

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Durham
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: NORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
NORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
Northern Lights Learning Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Laura Porter

Location

Address
Hundens Lane
Postcode
DL1 1LL
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 academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Darlington, Darlington, 587 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 45.3%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Durham.

Open schools in Darlington
49
Secondary schools in Darlington
8
Academies among open schools in Darlington
76% (37)
Open schools in DL1
18
Secondary in DL1
2
Open schools in Darlington LA
48
Secondary in Darlington LA
7

Nearby secondary 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

  • Haughton Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Darlington · DL1 2AN · Darlington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att839.8
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+43%
    • Absence10.2%

    1.0 miles away

  • Longfield Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Darlington · DL3 0HT · Darlington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att843.6
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence9.8%

    1.8 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%

    2.2 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%

    2.5 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%

    2.7 miles away

  • Hurworth School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Darlington · DL2 2JG · Darlington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att853.8
    • P80.1
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence8.0%

    2.9 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Laura Porter
Telephone
01325373770
Website
http://staidansacademy.co.uk/

Official links