Classpot

Springfield Academy

Darlington, DL1 2ANPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2022
KS2 Results
57%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
34 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#8,831
of 13,686 nationally

About Springfield Academy

Springfield Academy is a state primary school in Darlington that is currently running at full capacity, with 237 pupils on roll against a capacity of 236. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 39.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average for primary schools. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 82 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.73. Of those applicants, 34 put Springfield as their first preference, and 29 of those received offers. This level of demand suggests the school is well-regarded locally, particularly given that Darlington has only one primary school rated Outstanding by Ofsted, St John's Church of England Academy, which sits about 2.7 km away.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSalters Lane South, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 2AN
HeadteacherPaula Austin
Local AuthorityDarlington
Number of Pupils237
Free School Meals (FSM)39.3%
School Capacity237 / 236 (100% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

17 May 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, 5 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Music RoomsSensory RoomGymnasiumDining HallArt StudiosOutdoor PlaygroundChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

NetballTennisAthleticsSwimmingGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

ChoirCodingArt ClubFilm ClubChess

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

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

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Springfield Academy

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