UKSchoolSearch
OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 138989

The Rydal Academy

Academy sponsor led · Darlington · DL1 4BH

Ages 2–11 · 584 pupils · Darlington

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

33%

Overall absence

8.8%

Admissions demand

0.81 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2022-12-06

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 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)33%
Higher standard (RWM)1%
Avg scaled score — reading
101.0
Avg scaled score — maths
99.0
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 absence8.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.0%
Unauthorised2.3%
Authorised absence
6.5%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.9%
Enrolments in measure
540

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary 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

0.81 · Often has places

1st preferences

64

Places offered

81

1st-preference offers

64

Total preferences (any rank)
124
Preferred offers (top 3)
79
Applications from outside LA
0
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 fill93%

584 pupils · 630 places

Pupils on roll
584
Boys / girls
312 / 272
School capacity
630
Capacity fill
584 / 630 (93%)
Free school meals
51.6%
FSM pupils
280
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 2–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: NORTHERN ARCH LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Academy trust
NORTHERN ARCH LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Sponsor
Swift Academies
Headteacher
Mr John Armitage

Location

Address
Rydal Road
Postcode
DL1 4BH
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 (primary), Ages 2–11, in Darlington, Darlington, 584 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 51.6%.

Open schools in Darlington
49
Primary schools in Darlington
30
Academies among open schools in Darlington
76% (37)
Open schools in DL1
18
Primary in DL1
12
Open schools in Darlington LA
48
Primary in Darlington LA
29

Nearby primary 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

  • St John's Church of England Academy

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL1 4UB · Darlington

    Ages 2–11

    • KS260%
    • Absence4.4%
    • FSM37.2%
    • Demand1.37

    0.3 miles away

  • St Teresa's Catholic Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL1 4NL · Darlington

    Ages 3–11

    • KS277%
    • Absence10.8%
    • FSM11.0%
    • Demand1.09

    0.5 miles away

  • 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

  • Firthmoor Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL1 4RW · Darlington

    Ages 3–11

    • KS264%
    • Absence6.0%
    • FSM50.2%
    • Demand0.91

    0.7 miles away

  • Heathfield Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL1 1EJ · Darlington

    Ages 3–11

    • KS257%
    • Absence6.3%
    • FSM31.2%
    • Demand1.27

    0.8 miles away

  • Gurney Pease Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darlington · DL1 2NG · Darlington

    Ages 2–11

    • KS240%
    • Absence7.9%
    • FSM51.1%
    • Demand0.96

    1.2 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr John Armitage
Telephone
01325380784
Website
https://rydal.nalp.org.uk/

Official links