Staindrop Academy
Cleatlam Lane, Staindrop, Darlington, DL2 3JUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Staindrop Academy is a secondary school in Darlington for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 4th of 9 secondary schools in Darlington. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2021.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 6 October 2021, report published 17 November 2021
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 6 October 2021
Staindrop Academy is a caring school. Pupils are proud to attend the school. They feel valued and respected by the staff. Relationships are at the core of the school's values. As one pupil said to an inspector, 'You can be friends with anyone really.' Pupils know that the staff have high expectations. A calm and purposeful atmosphere in lessons allows pupils to focus on their work. Pupils can speak with confidence about what they are learning now and remember what has come before on their learning journey. One pupil described lessons to an inspector by saying, 'We are always learning something new.' The positive environment in the school is reflected in how pupils behave and conduct themselves. Bullying is not tolerated in this school by staff or pupils. All the pupils spoken to feel they can approach and talk to any member of staff if they are worried or concerned about anything. Pupils in this school are offered a broad range of opportunities that allow them to follow their interests and enjoy new experiences. Staff invest time into every pupil's development to ensure they leave Staindrop well prepared for the next stage in their life.
What the school should improve
- In the vast majority of subjects, the curriculum is planned and sequenced in detail. However, in some instances, pupils are moved on to more complex concepts too quickly. Leaders need to ensure that teachers across all subject areas use assessment information consistently well to check how well pupils have learned the essential knowledge before moving on.
- Leaders and staff know the pupils very well. However, the overview of how the needs of specific groups of pupils are met in lessons and in additional opportunities the school offers does not provide the detail required for informing leaders' decisions. Leaders need to further refine the systems which track and monitor pupils both in lessons and when participating in additional activities.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
78 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
504 pupils on roll, with places for 675
Schools near Staindrop Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teesdale School and Sixth Form | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 49.6 |
| Barnard Castle School | 5 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 43.0 |
| St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 46.4 |
| Bishop Barrington Academy | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 39.4 |
| King James I Academy Bishop Auckland | 8 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 43.9 |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ADVANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sarah Mitchinson
- Phone
- 01833660285
- Address
- Cleatlam Lane, Staindrop, Darlington, DL2 3JU
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 144991
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.