The Rydal Academy

The Rydal Academy is performing well overall, with an overall effectiveness rating of 'Good'. The school has made significant progress since its last inspection, particularly in its curriculum, where teachers now deliver discrete subject-specific lessons. The strong emphasis on emotional and mental health support is commendable, as it helps pupils feel secure and valued. With an array of extracurricular activities, the school extends its care and support beyond the classroom, fostering a positive environment where students thrive.

Strengths

• High expectations for pupil achievements
• Strong focus on emotional and mental health support
• Effective curriculum with clearly mapped knowledge progression
• Well-implemented phonics teaching leading to improved reading skills
• Supportive environment for pupils with special educational needs
• Diverse extracurricular activities enhancing pupil engagement
• Well-supported and motivated staff with high morale

Areas for Improvement

• Some variability in the implementation of curriculum schemes
• Limited coverage of relationships education and cultural diversity in the personal development curriculum

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Rydal Academy attended 92.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 25.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.6% of pupils at The Rydal Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Rydal Academy had 18.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 19.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 21.2% of pupils at The Rydal Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Rydal Academy received £7,340 and spent £7,253 for each of its 596 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £124,000 (£207 per pupil).

Across all 6 schools of Northern Arch Learning Partnership, income was £6,632 and spending £6,674 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Darlington · Darlington local authority: places and applications

The Rydal Academy is part of Northern Arch Learning Partnership, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College Darlington
• Mowden Infant School Darlington
• Longfield Academy Darlington
• Mowden Junior School Darlington
• Hurworth School Darlington

What is The Rydal Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Rydal Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was The Rydal Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Rydal Academy was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does The Rydal Academy have?

The Rydal Academy has 584 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Rydal Academy cover?

The Rydal Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are The Rydal Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 46% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Rydal Academy?

The Rydal Academy is at Rydal Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 4BH.