The Rydal Academy
Primary schoolThe Rydal Academy is a primary school in Darlington, for pupils aged 2 to 11. It had 584 pupils at the school census in January 2026.
Ofsted
Latest inspections as at 30 September 2026Good (overall), December 2022
- Inspection
- Graded inspection, 6 December 2022
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
Outcomes as Ofsted published them. Report cards (from November 2025) give no overall grade, and grades under different frameworks can’t be compared.
Results
Department for EducationIn 2024/25, 46% of pupils at The Rydal Academy met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% in Darlington and 62% in England.
4% reached the higher standard (8% in England).
End of primary school (KS2)
2024/25| Measure | This school | Darlington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 46% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard | 4% | 7% | 8% |
| Average scaled score in reading | 103 | 105 | 106 |
| Average scaled score in maths | 101 | 104 | 105 |
- Progress scores from KS1 to KS2 were not published for 2024/25, because the KS1 tests that give the starting point were cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
- Results reflect the pupils a school admits as well as its teaching, and a year's results can move a lot in a small school.
Schools nearby
In a straight line- St John's Church of England AcademyPrimary. Outstanding (overall), October 2022. 70% met the expected standard at KS2 (2024/25)490 m
- St Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary. School remains Good, February 2024. 85% met the expected standard at KS2 (2024/25)860 m
- St Aidan's Church of England AcademySecondary. Some aspects not as strong, June 2025. Attainment 8 of 41.6 (2025/26, provisional)960 m
- Borough Road Nursery SchoolNursery. Standards maintained, February 2025980 m
- Skerne Park AcademyPrimary. Requires improvement (overall), June 2024. 35% met the expected standard at KS2 (2024/25)1 km
- Firthmoor Primary SchoolPrimary. Report card, May 2026: safeguarding met. 62% met the expected standard at KS2 (2024/25)1.1 km
Admissions and catchments are set by councils and schools, which Open Index doesn’t map. Every school in Darlington
Where these figures come from
- Schools: the school lists of the Department for Education, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government, with Ofsted’s latest inspections for England.
- Results: the Department for Education’s school performance tables (Open Government Licence).