Longfield Academy
Darlington, DL3 0HT · Darlington · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th 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 — 3.1/10 against 556 of them, against 1.9/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.5 · 22 | 46% | 1.00 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.47 · 17 | 38% | 0.66 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.8 · 19 | 15% | 0.29 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Longfield Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 44.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.47 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 660 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific interventions are in place to improve progress scores for students starting from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Longfield Academy
Overview
Longfield Academy has undergone "significant change for the better" since its previous inspection, establishing a culture where pupils are "happy, kind and friendly." The school now offers an "ambitious curriculum" with clear routines that support high behavioural standards and effective support for pupils with special educational needs.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate "respectful" interactions and benefit from "raised expectations," resulting in an "orderly, calm school environment."
- The curriculum is "well suited to their needs," including vocational qualifications that prepare pupils for apprenticeships.
- Teachers use "regular recall tasks" to help pupils remember previous learning, and there are "clear processes" to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Staff promote a "wider love of reading" enthusiastically, and the personal social and health education programme helps pupils understand key topics like consent.
- Leaders have made "measured changes" to reduce staff workload and support well-being, with most parents being "positive about the changes."
Areas to improve
- The school must support staff in developing curriculum knowledge and pedagogy, as the curriculum is "not implemented well enough" in some subjects, leading to gaps in pupil knowledge.
- Leaders need to communicate more effectively with alternative providers to ensure they have "clear oversight of exactly what pupils are studying" and that the curriculum reflects school expectations.
- The school should continue its work to ensure high attendance rates, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, as low attendance prevents them from accessing the full curriculum.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.6 |
| 2024/25 | 42.8 |
| 2025/26 | 39.8 |
| 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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