Looking at the percentage of pupils meeting the 'extended standard', Ofsted has ranked the schools using data from the 2023 academic year. 

While Ofsted has changed the way it does inspections, this data takes academic data from the Ofsted site, provided by the Department for Education. 

The Government announced that single-phrase inspection headline grades for schools in England are being scrapped, and Ofsted has set out a series of reforms following a major public consultation.

Schools in England will no longer be issued with one of four judgments for overall effectiveness – outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate – when inspected.

The change, which was announced by the Department for Education (DfE), and was scrapped with immediate effect following criticism of the inspection system since the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Recommended reading: 

• House of Fraser building bought by new owner with talks on future set for next week

• Fake QR codes and pressurising texts: Two new parking fine scams exposed

• County Durham leisure centre criticised for broken facilities and membership costs

Get more content including the stories that matter to your community from The Northern Echo for just £5 for 5 month for a limited time only here.

Mrs Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating of “outstanding” to its lowest rating, “inadequate”, over safeguarding concerns.

A coroner concluded the Ofsted inspection in November 2022 “contributed” to Mrs Perry’s death.

But this academic year, parents will still be able to see the four grades across the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Top 10 Schools in Darlington

1. St John's Church of England Academy
   Address: Fenby Avenue, Darlington, DL1 4UB
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 80%
2. St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
   Address: Harris Street, Darlington, DL1 4NL
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 78%
3. Abbey Junior School
   Address: Abbey Road, Darlington, DL3 8NN
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 74%
4. Holy Family Catholic Primary School
   Address: Prior Street, Darlington, DL3 9EN
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 72%
5. Mount Pleasant Primary School
   Address: Newton Lane, Darlington, DL3 9HE
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 69%
6. Mowden Junior School
   Address: Conyers Avenue, Darlington, DL3 9DE
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 68%
7. West Park Academy
   Address: Alderman Leach Drive, Darlington, DL2 2GF
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 68%
8. Firthmoor Primary School
   Address: Ingleby Moor Crescent, Darlington, DL1 4RW
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 67%
9. St Augustine's Catholic Primary School
   Address: Beechwood Avenue, Darlington, DL3 7HP
   % of pupils meeting expected standard: 67%
10. Whinfield Primary School
    Address: Augusta Close, Darlington, DL1 3HT
    % of pupils meeting expected standard: 64%