Mount Pleasant Primary School

About Mount Pleasant Primary School

Mount Pleasant Primary School in Darlington is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 44 applications for just 21 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.1. Of those, 19 families put it as their first preference, and all 19 were offered a place. That kind of demand suggests parents who get to know the school tend to be keen on it. The school doesn't publish a formal parent-view survey score, but the combination of high first-preference uptake and oversubscription is a strong signal that families who choose Mount Pleasant are happy with what they find. The school is led by headteacher Joanne Blackham and caters for children aged 2 to 11, with a nursery on site. It's a state primary with a mixed intake and no religious character, so it serves a broad cross-section of the local community.

Academically, Mount Pleasant performs solidly against the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Darlington local authority average of 59%. The school ranks 12th out of 26 primaries in the borough, placing it in the top half locally. Individual subject scores are also encouraging: 79% met the expected standard in reading, 76% in writing and 73% in maths. At the higher standard, 12% of pupils achieved the top level across all three subjects. Reading and maths average scores were 107 and 105 respectively. Ofsted last inspected the school in September 2022 and rated it Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding. The early years provision was also rated Good. Compared with its previous inspection in 2013, which also rated the school Good, the leadership and management has held steady.

The school offers a good range of facilities for a primary, including an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, art studios and a forest school area, which supports outdoor learning. There is a strong extracurricular programme with clubs such as art, chess, science, film and choir, plus sports including rounders, cricket, tennis and cross country. For families with children who have additional needs, Mount Pleasant has a resourced provision and supports a wide range of SEND categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, visual impairment and social, emotional and mental health needs. The school is oversubscribed, so applying early and naming it as a first preference is advisable. It suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with strong behaviour standards, a broad curriculum and good SEND support, all within a school that feels in demand without being unreachable.

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