Darras Hall Primary School

About Darras Hall Primary School

Darras Hall Primary School sits comfortably above the Northumberland average for its key stage 2 results, with 69% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 56%. That 13-point gap is significant and places the school 15th out of 127 primary schools in the county, putting it in the top 12% of its type. It also ranks 16th out of 58 schools in the Northumberland local authority area when measured by the same metric, and sits in the top 50 nationally. The school is one of only nine primaries in Northumberland to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, which it received in its most recent graded inspection in 2023. That inspection gave top marks across the board — Outstanding for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management — with early years provision rated Good.

Digging into the 2023/24 key stage 2 results, the school's strengths are spread across the three core subjects. In maths, 88% of pupils met the expected standard and 46% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 108. Reading saw 78% at the expected level and 34% at the higher level, with an average score of 105. Writing was slightly lower, with 81% meeting the expected standard and 19% achieving greater depth. The combined expected standard figure of 69% is a solid outcome, though it's worth noting that the school's ranking percentile nationally is around the 34th mark, meaning a third of primaries nationally outperform it on this measure. Still, in the context of Northumberland, where the average is 56%, Darras Hall is clearly a strong performer. The school has no progress scores published for reading, writing or maths, so it's not possible to see how much value it adds relative to pupils' starting points, but the raw attainment figures are reassuringly above the local norm.

Darras Hall is a three-form entry primary with a nursery, catering for children aged 3 to 11, and it is heavily oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, there were 152 applications for 59 places, with 67 first-preference applications and only 59 first-preference offers — a ratio of 2.58 applicants per place. That level of demand reflects the school's reputation. Facilities include an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, art studios, a sensory room, forest school provision and a chapel. The school offers a broad range of sports including tennis, athletics, swimming, cricket, netball and gymnastics, plus clubs such as chess, choir, science club, drama and book club. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, visual impairment, and social, emotional and mental health support. With only 3.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively affluent catchment, and the combination of strong academic outcomes, extensive facilities and high demand makes it a popular choice for families who can secure a place.

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