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St John's Church of England Academy

Darlington, DL1 4UBPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Oct 2022
KS2 Results
60%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
34 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#7,957
of 13,686 nationally

About St John's Church of England Academy

St John's Church of England Academy is a state primary in Darlington that is running well above its official capacity, with 248 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210. The school is heavily oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 85 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.83 applicants per spot. Of the 34 families who listed it as their first preference, 27 received offers. The pupil body has a notably high proportion of children eligible for free school meals at 38.6%, which is significantly above the national primary average. This suggests the school serves a community with above-average economic deprivation, yet it remains a popular choice among local families. The school is mixed-gender, Church of England, and takes children from age 2 to 11, with nursery provision on site. Headteacher Marco Ramsay leads a school that clearly commands strong local demand despite its demographic challenges.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressFenby Avenue, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 4UB
HeadteacherMarco Ramsay
Local AuthorityDarlington
Number of Pupils248
Free School Meals (FSM)38.6%
School Capacity248 / 210 (118% 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

6 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 17 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
ICT SuiteOutdoor PlaygroundSports HallSensory RoomGymnasiumArt StudiosPlaying FieldsDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

7

Sports

RoundersGymnasticsTennisNetball

Clubs & Activities

GardeningScience ClubCoding

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

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St John's Church of England Academy

St John's Church of England Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.