Schools by area › Darlington › Harrowgate Hill Primary School
Harrowgate Hill Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Community school
Thompson Street West, Darlington DL3 0HZ · harrowgatehillpri.darlington.sch.uk · 01325 253300
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 48%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Darlington 62%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 407
- 57% of 708 places
- Local authority
- Darlington
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 31.7%
- First language not English
- 4.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 23 families put the school first and 27 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 27 | 23 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 51 | 50 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 38 | 37 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 43 | 42 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 58 | 56 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 48% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 0% the higher standard. Across Darlington it was 62%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼48% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ▼102 | 105 | ||
| ▼102 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Harrowgate Hill Primary School on 17 February 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 17 Feb 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Sept 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Dec 2024Monitoring visitEffective action
Sept 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Jun 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Jun 2010Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
58% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (36 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 58%
- Positive
- 51%
- Replies
- 36
- 8% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 89% who raised concerns
based on 11 parents (31%) whose child was bullied
based on 9 parents (25%) with SEND