Best secondary schools in Darlington (2026)
Darlington has 7 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Carmel College, in the top 18% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 43.5, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Darlington has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 18% in England |
Carmel College Darlington · Roman Catholic |
53.4 | 53.5 | 60% | Not judged | |
2 Top 35% in England |
Hummersknott Academy Darlington |
48.0 | 47.8 | 57% | Report card | |
3 Bottom 43% in England |
Longfield Academy Darlington |
44.3 | 42.8 | 44% | Not judged | |
4 Bottom 34% in England |
Polam Hall School Darlington |
43.1 | 44.6 | 38% | Report card | |
5 Bottom 25% in England |
Haughton Academy Darlington |
40.2 | 38.0 | 34% | Report card | |
6 Bottom 19% in England |
St Aidan's Church of England Academy Darlington · Church of England |
39.4 | 40.0 | 41% | Good | |
7 Bottom 14% in England |
Wyvern Academy Darlington |
38.7 | 37.7 | 24% | Good |
Other towns in County Durham
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Darlington?
On exam results over the last three years, Carmel College is the top-ranked secondary school in Darlington, in the top 18% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.