Wyvern Academy
About Wyvern Academy
Wyvern Academy is a school that local parents clearly want, and the numbers back that up. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 488 applications for 288 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.69. That means nearly 1.7 families applied for every available spot, and 263 of those were first-preference applications, all of which received offers. It is a popular choice in Darlington, and while we don't have a specific parent recommendation percentage in the data, the high demand itself is a strong signal of satisfaction. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and currently has 503 pupils against a capacity of 1350, so there is room to grow. Headteacher Nadia Robinson leads a school where 20.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Dec 2023Latest monitoring visit (7 Dec 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Wyvern Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications