Classpot

Longfield Academy

Darlington, DL3 0HTSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
4 Good
Oct 2024
Progress 8
-0.47
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
86 1st-choice / 90 places
Ranking
#2,559
of 3,141 nationally

About Longfield Academy

Longfield Academy in Darlington was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2022. The school now holds Good across all four graded categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. However, the headline exam metric tells a more cautious story. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year sits at -0.47, meaning pupils achieved nearly half a grade less per subject than the national average for students with similar starting points. That places Longfield 4th out of 7 secondary schools in Darlington, and in the bottom 50% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 43.6 is modest, and just 41.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate is low at 15.1%, and only 7.6% of pupils entered the full EBacc combination.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressLongfield Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 0HT
HeadteacherAngela Sweeten
Local AuthorityDarlington
Number of Pupils721
Free School Meals (FSM)36.8%
School Capacity721 / 900 (80% full)

The full report on this school

What 66 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

15 Oct 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 28 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Tennis CourtsLibraryICT SuiteSixth Form CentreArt StudiosSports HallMusic RoomsAstro TurfSwimming PoolGymnasiumDining HallTheatre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

HockeyRugbyFootballTennisBadmintonCross CountryNetballAthleticsCricketMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseEco ClubChessFilm ClubScience ClubBook ClubCodingDuke of EdinburghChoirModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Longfield Academy

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