Schools by area › Darlington › Marchbank Free School
Marchbank Free School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 5–11 · Special free school
Mowden Hall, Barnes Road, Darlington DL3 9BL · marchbankfreeschool.org.uk · 01325 254670
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 0%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Darlington 62%, England 62%
- Pupils
- 63
- 97% of 65 places
- Local authority
- Darlington
- Free school meals
- 66.7%
- First language not English
- 3.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Results
In 2024/25, 0% 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 | |||
| ▼0% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼99 | 106 | ||
| ▼94 | 105 | ||
| ▼94 | 105 | ||
hidden: too few pupils to publish
Ofsted
Marchbank Free School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 23 January 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 23 Jan 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jun 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jun 2021Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective - Mar 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
Jul 2019Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Safeguarding Not effective Jun 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
100% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (13 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 100%
- Replies
- 13
- 25% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 23% who had a child bullied
based on 11 parents (85%) with SEND