Marchbank Free School

Marchbank Free School has shown significant improvements since its previous inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good'. The school provides a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and supported, allowing them to thrive. The quality of education is strong, particularly in personal development and behavior, which are rated as outstanding. The effective curriculum is tailored to meet the individual needs of students, and staff are dedicated to helping pupils achieve their personal and academic goals. The leadership team, supported by the Education Village Academy Trust, demonstrates a clear commitment to continuous improvement.

Strengths

• Pupils thrive in a nurturing environment that promotes safety and care.
• Outstanding behavior and attitudes from pupils.
• Strong focus on personal development that prepares pupils for future success.
• Well-organized curriculum tailored to meet individual pupil needs.
• High-quality training for staff supporting pupils with special educational needs.
• Effective methods for teaching reading and promoting a love for reading.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of the curriculum in a minority of subjects.
• Some teachers do not swiftly identify or address misconceptions, leading to gaps in pupils' learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at Marchbank Free School attended 92.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 21.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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, 1.8% of pupils at Marchbank Free School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 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 Marchbank Free School had 6.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 49.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 Marchbank Free School had 63 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; vision impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Marchbank Free School received £35,982 and spent £30,424 for each of its 55 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £120,000 (£2,178 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of The Education Village Academy Trust, income was £11,154 and spending £10,724 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

Marchbank Free School is part of The Education Village Academy Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Reid Street Primary School Darlington
• Gurney Pease Academy Darlington
• Springfield Academy Darlington
• Haughton Academy Darlington
• Beaumont Hill Academy Darlington
• Whinfield Primary School Darlington

What is Marchbank Free School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Marchbank Free School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Marchbank Free School last inspected by Ofsted?

Marchbank Free School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Marchbank Free School have?

Marchbank Free School has 63 pupils on roll.

What age range does Marchbank Free School cover?

Marchbank Free School for pupils aged 5 to 11.

What are Marchbank Free School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Marchbank Free School?

Marchbank Free School is at Mowden Hall, Barnes Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 9BL.