Skerne Park Academy is a mainstream primary school in Darlington for children aged 2 to 11. In January 2026, 62 of its 248 pupils (25%) were getting SEN support and 7 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 2–11
- 248 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Darlington.
25% get SEN support
62 of 248 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
7 of 248 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication34
- Social, emotional and mental health19
- Moderate learning difficulty11
- Autism5
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 248 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Ms Clair Gooding
- Part of
- Advance Learning Partnership
- Free school meals
- 57.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Darlington
- School reference (URN)
- 139195
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
Rated Requires improvement, June 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Coleridge Gardens, Darlington, DL1 5AJ
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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
- Heathfield Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- Red Hall Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 2.0 miles
- Hurworth House School Aspris Children's services Independent · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 2.1 miles
- Marchbank Free School Special school · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Polam Hall School All-through · Ages 4–16 · SEN support 10.7%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.6 miles
- The Rydal Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 21.2%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.6 miles
- St Augustine's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 10.7%, EHC plans 2.7% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Darlington SEND schools in Darlington
Questions about Skerne Park Academy
How many pupils at Skerne Park Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 62 of the 248 pupils (25%) were getting SEN support and 7 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Skerne Park Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (34 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (19 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (11 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Skerne Park 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 Skerne Park 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 Skerne Park Academy?
You can ask for Skerne Park 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 Skerne Park 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 Heathfield Primary School, about 1.4 miles away.
Where is Skerne Park Academy?
Coleridge Gardens, Darlington, DL1 5AJ, 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.