Classpot

Haughton Academy

Darlington, DL1 2ANSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2022
Progress 8
-0.57
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
155 1st-choice / 165 places
Ranking
#2,696
of 3,141 nationally

About Haughton Academy

Haughton Academy is a state secondary school in Darlington that clearly holds appeal for local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 250 applications for 165 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.52. Of those applications, 155 were first-preference choices, all of which received offers. That level of demand suggests parents who live nearby are actively choosing the school. The school is a mixed, non-faith 11-16 academy with 890 pupils on roll, just shy of its 900 capacity. It has a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 40.7%, reflecting the community it serves. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across all areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This was a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSalters Lane South, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 2AN
HeadteacherJane Darbyshire
Local AuthorityDarlington
Number of Pupils890
Free School Meals (FSM)40.7%
School Capacity890 / 900 (99% 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

1 Feb 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Dining HallArt StudiosAstro TurfSwimming PoolMusic RoomsLibraryTennis CourtsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

NetballHockeyFootballCross CountryRugbyBasketballDance

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubEco ClubDramaScience ClubChoirYoung EnterpriseChessModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-Sensory

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Haughton Academy

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