Councils · England · Darlington
Schools in Darlington, and the dates that matter.
Every state school in the council area — 30 primary, 8 secondary — with Darlington’s application deadlines, offer days, and where to apply. One page, kept current from official sources.
September 2027 entry · Sources: Primary scheme (PDF)
Primary · Reception 2027
15 January 2027
National deadline. Offers arrive 16 April. We suggest submitting by 8 January to stay clear of the rush.
Apply on Darlington’s portal →Verify the exact date on the council’s scheme →Secondary · Year 7 2027
31 October 2026
National deadline. Offers arrive 1 March. Grammar tests, where they apply, happen even earlier. We suggest submitting by 24 October to stay clear of the rush.
Apply on Darlington’s portal →Verify the exact date on the council’s scheme →01 / EVERY SCHOOL IN DARLINGTON
Find your shortlist.
All 45state and independent schools in the council area, straight from the Department for Education’s register. Open any school for admissions details, Ofsted history and open days.
Primary · 30
Abbey Infants' School
Academy converter · Ages 4-7 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Abbey Junior School
Academy converter · Ages 7-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Bishopton Redmarshall CofE Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Bishopton
Ofsted · Good
Corporation Road Community Primary School
Academy sponsor led · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Firthmoor Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Gurney Pease Academy
Academy converter · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Harrowgate Hill Primary School
Community school · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Heathfield Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Heighington Church of England Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Newton Aycliffe
Ofsted · Good
High Coniscliffe CofE Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Hurworth Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 5-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Mount Pleasant Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Mowden Infant School
Academy converter · Ages 5-7 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Mowden Junior School
Academy converter · Ages 7-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Northwood Primary School
Academy sponsor led · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Polam Hall School
Free schools · Ages 4-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Red Hall Primary School
Community school · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Reid Street Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 4-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Skerne Park Academy
Academy sponsor led · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Springfield Academy
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
St Bede's Catholic Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Not judged
St John's Church of England Academy
Academy converter · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Outstanding
St Mary's Cockerton Church of England Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
St. George's Church of England Academy
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed
Ofsted · Good
The Rydal Academy
Academy sponsor led · Ages 2-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
West Park Academy
Academy converter · Ages 3-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Whinfield Primary School
Academy converter · Ages 5-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Secondary · 8
Carmel College
Academy converter · Ages 11-18 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Not judged
Haughton Academy
Academy converter · Ages 11-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Hummersknott Academy
Academy converter · Ages 11-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Hurworth School
Academy converter · Ages 11-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Longfield Academy
Academy sponsor led · Ages 11-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Not judged
Polam Hall School
Free schools · Ages 4-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
St Aidan's Church of England Academy
Academy sponsor led · Ages 11-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Wyvern Academy
Academy sponsor led · Ages 11-16 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Special & other · 8
Beaumont Hill Academy
Academy special converter · Ages 2-19 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Darlington College
Further education · Ages 16-99 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Embleton View
Other independent special school · Ages 5-18 · Mixed
Ofsted · Good
Hurworth House School Aspris Children's services
Other independent special school · Ages 5-19 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Marchbank Free School
Free schools special · Ages 5-11 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
Oakwood Learning Centre
Other independent special school · Ages 8-18 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Outstanding
Pear Tree School
Other independent special school · Ages 8-18 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Outstanding
Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
Academy 16-19 converter · Ages 16-19 · Mixed · Darlington
Ofsted · Good
02 / HOW APPLYING WORKS HERE
One form, through Darlington.
If you live in Darlington, you apply through the council’s own portal — even for schools in another council’s area.
Preferences
List as many schools as the form allows — you’ll see the limit when you start your application. Rank in your true order; schools never see it.
Own-criteria schools
Some Darlington secondaries are academies or faith schools that set their own entry criteria — check each school’s page for extra forms before the deadline.
Plain-English guides
Primary admissions, explained
The 15 January deadline and how Reception offers work.
Secondary admissions, explained
The 31 October deadline and the traps that come earlier.
How school appeals work
Your right to appeal, and honest odds of success.
Waiting lists, explained
How they're ordered, and why positions move both ways.
03 / NEARBY
Looking across the border?
Families near Darlington often also shortlist schools in these neighbouring council areas.