A good academy converter school in Darlington. Explore Ofsted ratings, admissions information, and performance data for Heighington Church of England Primary School.
Overall school rating
/ 100
Primary weighted harmonic mean of 3 indicators
Indicators used for Primary schools
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Official inspection outcomes
Source: Ofsted inspection outcomes. Grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate.
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Basic details and characteristics
Official government statistics
| Year | Mat Average | Read Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 106.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 107.0 | 107.0 |
Historical data shows year-over-year performance trends
Derived insights and analysis
Improving trend (+0.5 per year)
Up 0.5% over 3 years
Information extracted from the school's own website
"Life in all its fullness (John 10:10)"
The school has a Christian ethos with strong links to St. Michael's Church in the village and is part of the Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust. OFSTED 2025 notes Pupils flourish at this school with the distinctive Christian character contributing to personal development, wellbeing and academic achievement (SIAMS 2018). The motto and ethos center on Life in all its fullness.
Candles (wraparound care) provides before and after school care for children from 3-11 and is available every morning between 7:30am and 8:50am and every afternoon between 3:15pm and 5:50pm, Monday to Friday (Reception to Year 6) and between 7:45am and 9:00am and 3:00pm and 5:30pm for children in Nursery. Candles is led by Ms Ida Austin (Manager) with two additional team members – Ms Lauren French and Mrs Julie Jackson; there is also outdoor support from Mr Morgan. The service aims to provide a safe, secure and enjoyable environment with opportunities to participate in a wide variety of activities beyond the normal school day, including a healthy breakfast and afternoon snack.
Candles is the wraparound care facility at Heighington CE Primary School, providing before and after school care with breakfast/afternoon tea included. Details include session timings, manager and staff, and a commitment to a safe and varied activity programme beyond the school day.
Spaces are available by year (Reception, Year 1, Year 5 etc.) and admissions are managed by Darlington Borough Council. Prospective families are invited to attend an Open Meeting (15 October, 4–5pm) and can contact the school at 01325 300326 or [email protected]. The school references an Admissions Policy 26-27 and provides related guidance via the local authority.
Wraparound care fees (per session): 7:45–9:00am £5.50; 3:00–4:30pm £7.50; 3:00–5:30pm £10.00. Late pick-up fees: £5.10 until 17:45, after which £10 per 15 minutes after the first 15 minutes late. All wraparound sessions are paid via Parent Pay. Government childcare vouchers are accepted for wraparound care. Core hours for funded places can be requested at £5.30 per hour. Lunchtimes: school meals £2.95 per day; free school meals are available for eligible children attending morning sessions (and morning+afternoon sessions) in any day. Free healthy snacks of fruit/vegetables are provided, and free milk is provided to all under-5s.
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