Mount Pleasant Primary School
Darlington, DL3 9HE · Darlington · primary school
Check the area around this school
7th of 27 primary schools in Darlington we can score, 29 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 9.2/10 against 810 of them, against 7.8/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 76.0 · 80 | 40% | 3.19 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 12.0 · 74 | 25% | 1.85 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Mount Pleasant Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 76.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the school’s figure was 12.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Coding, Gardening, Karate, Magic, Singing and Signing, Football, and Running clubs. The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 259 pupils against a stated capacity of 262. 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 curriculum support pupils who are working towards the higher standard? What does a typical day look like for a child joining the breakfast club?
What Ofsted said about Mount Pleasant Primary School
Overview
Pupils “thrive” at Mount Pleasant Primary School, where there is a “strong sense of community” and “exceptional” behaviour. The curriculum is described as “ambitious” and well-sequenced, ensuring that knowledge deepens over time for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “high levels of concentration and self-control” and are “supportive of their classmates”.
- Teachers “address pupils’ misconceptions quickly and effectively” and use assessment to ensure pupils “stay on track”.
- Pupils with SEND are “extremely well supported by highly trained staff” within both resourced provision and mainstream lessons.
- Staff expectations are high, resulting in pupils who are “keen to learn” and have “excellent manners”.
- Leaders provide “many opportunities for staff training”, fostering a collaborative approach where “staff morale is very high”.
Areas to improve
- Activities in the early years are “not sufficiently personalised to meet children’s individual needs”, meaning opportunities to develop skills are “sometimes missed”.
- Leaders have not planned enough opportunities for pupils to develop skills in “debating and discussing”, so pupils do not practise debating enough to become proficient.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective”, with staff trained to identify risks and leaders acting “quickly and effectively” on concerns while working well with other agencies.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 69% |
| 2023/24 | 64% |
| 2024/25 | 76% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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