Haughton Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Darlington for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 235 of its 854 pupils (27.5%) were getting SEN support and 30 (3.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 854 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Darlington.
27.5% get SEN support
235 of 854 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.5% have an EHC plan
30 of 854 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health74
- Moderate learning difficulty68
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia48
- Speech, language and communication31
- Autism29
- Physical disability8
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 854 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jane Darbyshire (Chief Executive)
- Part of
- The Education Village Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 42.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Darlington
- School reference (URN)
- 138089
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Darlington council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, May 2026: Expected standard in 4 of 6 areas
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Salters Lane South, Darlington, DL1 2AN
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Beaumont Hill Academy Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.0 miles
- Red Hall Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 0.6 miles
- Heathfield Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Marchbank Free School Special school · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Springfield Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.0 miles
- Whinfield Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 18.2%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.4 miles
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.6%, EHC plans 1.6% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Darlington SEND schools in Darlington
Questions about Haughton Academy
How many pupils at Haughton Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 235 of the 854 pupils (27.5%) were getting SEN support and 30 (3.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Haughton Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (74 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (68 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (48 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Haughton Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Haughton Academy?
Through Darlington council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Haughton Academy?
You can ask for Haughton Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Haughton Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Red Hall Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Haughton Academy?
Salters Lane South, Darlington, DL1 2AN, in Darlington.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.