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The Rydal Academy

Darlington, DL1 4BHPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Dec 2022
KS2 Results
33%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
50 1st-choice / 56 places
Ranking
#13,105
of 13,686 nationally

About The Rydal Academy

The Rydal Academy is a popular choice among Darlington families, with 50 first-preference applications for its 56 Reception places in the 2025/26 admissions round, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.95 applicants per place. Parent satisfaction appears strong, though the school does not publish a specific parent-view recommendation percentage. The school is a large state primary for children aged 2 to 11, with a capacity of 630 pupils and currently 621 on roll. Nearly half of its pupils (49.6%) are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake. The headteacher, John Armitage, leads a school that has maintained a Good rating from Ofsted across its two most recent inspections, with the latest graded inspection in December 2022 awarding Good in every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressRydal Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 4BH
HeadteacherJohn Armitage
Local AuthorityDarlington
Number of Pupils621
Free School Meals (FSM)49.6%
School Capacity621 / 630 (99% 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 Dec 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, 31 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
Forest SchoolICT SuiteGymnasiumSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

DanceFootballNetballGymnasticsAthleticsCross CountryTennis

Clubs & Activities

Film ClubEco ClubGardening

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.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:20

Source: rydal.nalp.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rydal Academy

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