The Rydal Academy
Rydal Road, Darlington, DL1 4BH
Headteacher: Mr John ArmitageSchool website ↗Pupils: 621 (capacity: 630)Part of NORTHERN ARCH LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Ofsted RatingInspected 6 December 2022Full report ↗
Good
From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.
Quality of Teaching
Good
Behaviour in School
Good
Pupils' Wider Development
Good
School Leadership
Good
SATs Results (2024/25)
End-of-primary-school tests taken by Year 6 pupils. National averages shown for comparison.
Reading, Writing & Maths combinedⓘReading, Writing & Maths% of pupils achieving the expected standard in all three subjects at age 11The national average is around 60%. Higher means more pupils reached the expected level.
46.0%
Exceeding expected level (Reading, Writing & Maths)ⓘHigher Standard — Reading, Writing & Maths% of pupils exceeding the expected level in all three subjectsA more demanding threshold. The national average is around 8%.
4.0%
Reading
Expected level62.0%
Exceeding26.0%
Average scoreⓘReading Average ScoreAverage scaled score in the reading test (range 80–120, average = 100)103.0
Writing
Expected level54.0%
Exceeding5.0%
Maths
Expected level60.0%
Exceeding20.0%
Average scoreⓘMaths Average ScoreAverage scaled score in the maths test (range 80–120, average = 100)101.0
How Hard to Get Into This School (2025/26)
✓ Not Oversubscribed
Year 3 places per year
56
Applications received
109
Families who got their first-choice
0.9%
Pupils & Inclusion
Eligible for pupil premium
54.0%
Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
English as an additional languageⓘEnglish as an Additional Language% of pupils whose first language is not English
18.0%
Pupils receiving SEN supportⓘSEN Support% of pupils receiving SEN (Special Educational Needs) support without a formal planThese pupils need extra help but do not yet have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
13.0%
Location
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Results Over Time
Detailed year-by-year figures
| Year | Reading, Writing & Maths (expected %) | Exceeding expected (%) | Reading Progress | Writing Progress | Maths Progress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 39.0% | 4.0% | -2.3 | +0.2 | +0.3 |
| 2016/17 | 39.0% | 6.0% | -1.9 | -2.0 | +1.2 |
| 2017/18 | 54.0% | 7.0% | +0.3 | +0.3 | +1.6 |
| 2018/19 | 43.0% | 2.0% | -2.4 | -2.1 | +1.3 |
| 2022/23 | 38.0% | 2.0% | +0.5 | -2.0 | -0.3 |
| 2023/24 | 33.0% | 1.0% | - | - | - |
| 2024/25 | 46.0% | 4.0% | - | - | - |