Classpot

Abbey Infants' School

Darlington, DL3 8JAPrimaryAges 4–7MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2022
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
89 1st-choice / 90 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Abbey Infants' School

Abbey Infants' School in Darlington is a state primary for children aged 4 to 7, and it is a school that local families clearly want to get into. With 265 pupils on roll against a capacity of 270, it is essentially full. The demand is striking: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 198 applications for 90 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.2. Of those, 89 were first-preference applications, and 85 first-preference offers were made, meaning most who put it first got a place, but competition is real. The school's intake is notably less disadvantaged than the local average. Just 3.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a national primary average of around 23% and a Darlington average that is typically higher. This suggests a relatively affluent catchment, which may be a factor in the school's popularity. The headteacher is Michael Piper-Nelson, and the school has no religious character, so admissions are purely based on standard council criteria.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 7 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCleveland Terrace, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 8JA
HeadteacherMichael Piper-Nelson
Local AuthorityDarlington
Number of Pupils265
Free School Meals (FSM)3.4%
School Capacity265 / 270 (98% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

16 Nov 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Music RoomsSensory RoomDining HallGymnasiumICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

AthleticsCross CountryRoundersGymnasticsDance

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaScience ClubCodingBook ClubChoir

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageMulti-Sensory

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:20

Source: abbeyschools.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Abbey Infants' School

Abbey Infants' School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.