Hummersknott Academy
Darlington, DL3 8AR · Darlington · secondary school
Check the area around this school
3rd of 8 secondary schools in Darlington we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.0/10 against 893 of them, against 5.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 20 | 35% | 0.71 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 58.1 · 79 | 30% | 2.36 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.48 · 17 | 25% | 0.42 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.7 · 73 | 10% | 0.73 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hummersknott Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 57.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.48 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (5.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.2 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,215 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What specific support is available for pupils whose Progress 8 score is below 0? How does the new Ofsted grading affect current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Hummersknott Academy
Overview
Hummersknott Academy is described as a "friendly, happy place" where pupils feel safe and value their belonging. Leaders have driven "significant improvements" in recent years, resulting in a "calm, orderly atmosphere" and rising achievement in national tests.
Strengths
- Attendance and behaviour are at a "Strong standard," with "robust, responsive systems" addressing barriers and a "clear culture of respect and tolerance."
- Personal development is at a "Strong standard," featuring a "broad, coherently planned" programme that builds "confidence, resilience and strong social and moral understanding."
- Pupils benefit from a "rich, ambitious wider offer" of extra-curricular activities and leadership roles, with high participation across all groups.
- The careers programme is "comprehensive," with "deeply rooted links to the local employment market" helping pupils make balanced choices.
- Staff workload and wellbeing are supported through proactive strategies, and most parents are "very positive about the school."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure the curriculum implementation is "embedded consistently and effectively across the school."
- Strategies to monitor priority areas must be "sharply focused upon impact" to drive further improvements in pupil experiences and achievement.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are "made safer and feel safe."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.7 |
| 2024/25 | 47.8 |
| 2025/26 | 50.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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