Darlington
St Aidan's Church of England Academy
GCSE results 2026: every Darlington school ranked · how England did
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 41.6 is below the national average of around 46. Compare with progress data, which may show a different picture.
- 41.6
- Attainment 8
- 41%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made below-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely below zero.
- -0.96
- Progress 8
- [-1.22, -0.70]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
This school has a Church of England religious character. Admissions may prioritise pupils who meet faith criteria. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) may be required.
Watch-outs
- Faith admissions criteria apply (Church of England). A Supplementary Information Form may be required. Evidence of faith practice may be needed.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Download and review the Supplementary Information Form
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 83 | 76 | 76 (100%) | 124 |
| September 2025 | 116 | 109 | 109 (100%) | 169 |
| September 2024 | 127 | 120 | 120 (100%) | 170 |
| September 2023 | 125 | 94 | 94 (100%) | 141 |
| September 2022 | 97 | 90 | 90 (100%) | 123 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Darlington’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 109 | 41.6 | — | 41.3% | 16.5% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 110 | 40.0 | — | 40.9% | — | 29.1% | 3.5 |
| 2023/2024 | 122 | 35.5 | -0.96 | 25.4% | — | 40.2% | 3.0 |
| 2022/2023 | 86 | 42.7 | -0.13 | 36.0% | — | 34.9% | 3.4 |
| 2021/2022 | 84 | 43.4 | -0.29 | — | — | 31.0% | 3.7 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Darlington for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 135314 |
| Local authority | Darlington |
| Region | North East |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy sponsor led |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Principal Laura Porter |
| Trust | NORTHERN LIGHTS LEARNING TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Church of England |
| Postcode | DL1 1LL |
| Pupils | 594 |
| FSM eligible | 43.9% |
Contact and identifiers
Hundens Lane, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 1LL
http://staidansacademy.co.uk/View local authority page1325373770| DfE number | 6905 |
| UKPRN | 10023010 |
| Opened | 1 Sept 2007 |
| GIAS updated | 2 Feb 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 2 Feb 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 31 Jan 2020 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 7 Jan 2020 |
| Publication date | 31 Jan 2020 |