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Polam Hall School - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)
Polam Hall School
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Polam Hall School
- All-through
- Darlington DL1 5PA
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Ofsted report
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| The quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years provision | Good |
| Previous inspection grade | Requires Improvement |
Quick insights from ofsted Powered by AI
This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Academic Progress: Leaders have planned a well-sequenced curriculum from Reception through to GCSE.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils behave well in lessons and at social times with exemplary conduct.
Support for Pupils Falling Behind: Leaders continue to take steps to improve pupils' reading knowledge.
Teacher Engagement: Teachers tailor the planned curriculum to meet pupils鈥� needs.
Impact of Teaching on Student Progress: Quality texts are used to enrich pupils' vocabulary and improve their writing.
Strengths or Challenges with Teaching Staff: Staff training is well-targeted to improve teaching quality.
Communication with Parents: Parents are positive about the school鈥檚 remote learning offer.
Parent Satisfaction: Most parents believe staff deal with bullying effectively.
Opportunities for Parent Involvement: Parents can give opinions on Ofsted Parent View.
Actions to Enhance Education Quality: Leaders have prioritised reading and improved the range of reading materials.
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Leaders are reviewing how to address concerns about bullying.
Managing Bullying and Ensuring Safety: Incidents of bullying are taken seriously.
Behaviour and Attitudes of Pupils: Pupils display positive attitudes to learning and behave well.
Promoting Pupils' Welfare and Safety: There is a determined approach to encourage high levels of pupil attendance.
Extracurricular Activities & Clubs: The school offers an extensive range of clubs.
Career Counselling Services: Secondary-aged pupils receive useful careers information.
Preparation for Next Key Stage: Teaching helps with the next stage of learning in the subject.
Support for SEND: Most SEND pupils receive good support for their academic and social needs.
Subjects Offered: Year 10 and 11 follow a broad range of GCSE subjects.
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us
Polam Hall School is a All-through, Co-Ed school located in County Durham, North East.
It has 816 students from age 4-16 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 19 : 1.
At this school, 33% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.
This school rated Good by recent Ofsted inspection.
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Gallery
Primary Exam Result
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 104 | 102 | 97 |
| Reading | 105 | 104 | 98 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 58% | 55% | 55.96% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 10% | 8.03% | 7.42% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | -1.1 | Below Average |
| Writing | -1 | Below Average |
| Maths | -0.4 | Average |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic 2020, 2021 and 2022 Primary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic 2020, 2021 and 2022 Primary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic 2020, 2021 and 2022 Primary school exam
results were not published at school level.
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 102 2 | 104 | 96 |
| Reading | 102 5 | 104 | 95 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 50% 5 | 64.46% | 60.44% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 2% 2 | 11.96% | 9.72% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | - | - |
| Writing | - | - |
| Maths | - | - |
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 104 1 | 100 | 94 |
| Reading | 107 2 | 105 | 95 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 55% 5 | 63.21% | 59.51% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 4% 2 | 9.29% | 9.16% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0 | - |
| Writing | -7.1 | Well Below Average |
| Maths | -1.8 | Below Average |
View the average scaled scores of pupils in the key stage 2 reading and math tests. Scores of 100 or more indicate the expected standard, while 110 or more indicate a higher standard.
| Average scaled score | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 103 | 99 | 93 |
| Reading | 105 | 99 | 93 |
Explore how well our pupils are doing academically. Discover the percentage of pupils who reach the expected level (with a score of 100 or more) and those who excel even further (achieving a score of 110 or more).
| Reading, writing and maths | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 50% | 57.32% | 56.29% |
| Pupils achieving at a higher standard | 2% | 9.08% | 8.19% |
Explore how much progress pupils have made in reading, writing, and math from key stage 1 to key stage 2.
| Subject | Progress score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | -0.2 | Average |
| Writing | -3.1 | Below Average |
| Maths | -3.1 | Below Average |
Secondary Exam Result
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.34 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 42.7 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 33% | 27.08% | 30.03% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 58% | 38.92% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 34% | 21% | 25.06% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 10% | 7.85% | 10.91% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 21% | 12.23% | 15.51% |
| EBacc average points score | 3.80 | 2.42 | 2.83 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 93% | 92.33% | 90.53% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 69 | 126 | 144 |
| Pupils staying in education | 90% | 84% | 84.16% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 26% | 36.67% | 32.73% |
| School sixth forms | 13% | 10.33% | 29.8% |
| Sixth form colleges | 51% | 33% | 10.22% |
| Other education destinations | 0% | 4.22% | 11.43% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 0% | 4.22% | 2.8% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 3% | 4.33% | 3.59% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.15 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 49.8 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 50% | 28.08% | 32.85% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 68% | 40.62% | 45.33% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 39% | 22.46% | 24.94% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 18% | 9.69% | 13.02% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 25% | 14.62% | 17.19% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.35 | 2.56 | 2.97 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 97% | 92.89% | 90.4% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 73 | 129 | 141 |
| Pupils staying in education | 93% | 88.56% | 86.29% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 29% | 40.33% | 34.03% |
| School sixth forms | 12% | 11.11% | 30.82% |
| Sixth form colleges | 48% | 32.22% | 10.38% |
| Other education destinations | 4% | 4.67% | 11.08% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 2.22% | 1.99% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 2% | 2.13% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.07 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 48.6 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 43% 6 | 24.46% | 29.3% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 71% 20 | 40.69% | 43.41% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 80% | 22.77% | 25.8% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 14% 6 | 7.69% | 11.47% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 33% 8 | 12.85% | 16.49% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.49 | 2.44 | 2.88 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 89% | 91.57% | 90.2% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 53 | 117 | 135 |
| Pupils staying in education | 85% | 86% | 84.08% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 26% | 35% | 33.25% |
| School sixth forms | 42% | 17.57% | 31.27% |
| Sixth form colleges | 17% | 27% | 8.45% |
| Other education destinations | 0% | 6.29% | 11.14% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 2% | 2.86% | 3.4% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 2% | 2.86% | 2.75% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.58 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 43.4 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 37% 6 | 24.75% | 29.22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 51% 11 | 36.58% | 42.62% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 69% | 24.5% | 24.73% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 20% 6 | 8.17% | 11.33% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 25% 3 | 12.17% | 16.01% |
| EBacc average points score | 3.95 | 2.27 | 2.84 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 95% | 93.14% | 84.87% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 19 | 123 | 140 |
| Pupils staying in education | 89% | 86.29% | 73.88% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | - | 34.43% | 28.31% |
| School sixth forms | 58% | 17.29% | 31.6% |
| Sixth form colleges | 21% | 26.71% | 9.08% |
| Other education destinations | - | 5.14% | 5.87% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | - | 2.86% | 2.96% |
| Pupils staying in employment | - | 1.57% | 2.05% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.58 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 43.2 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 43% | 24.45% | 29.55% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 62% | 35.91% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 49% | 17.82% | 25.25% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 26% | 9.91% | 14.71% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 28% | 11% | 16.26% |
| EBacc average points score | - | - | - |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | - | 93.17% | 85.29% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | - | 150 | 145 |
| Pupils staying in education | - | 74.67% | 58.19% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | - | 39.17% | 30.58% |
| School sixth forms | - | 10.33% | 32.22% |
| Sixth form colleges | - | 21.67% | 8.95% |
| Other education destinations | - | 7.67% | 5.7% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | - | 6.33% | 4.78% |
| Pupils staying in employment | - | 3.33% | 2.45% |
A level exam result
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 24.00 1 | 20.32 | 29.39 |
| Average grade | D+ | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 24.60 1 | 20.21 | 28.64 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | D+ | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 0.0% | 5.67% | 13.07% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | 25 | 344 | 232 |
| Students staying in education | 84% | 62.67% | 57.31% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | 4% | 10% | 7.77% |
| Students entering employment | 4% | 16.33% | 20.99% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | 8% | 9.33% | 8.8% |
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 23.44 1 | 19.17 | 29.03 |
| Average grade | D+ | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 25.19 1 | 20.52 | 28.82 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | C- | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 0.0% | 6.3% | 13.37% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | - | 0 | 3 |
| Students staying in education | - | 30% | 31.5% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | - | 5.67% | 5.54% |
| Students entering employment | - | 13.67% | 15.81% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | - | 4.67% | 4.22% |
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 24.04 | 19.58 | 26.73 |
| Average grade | D+ | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 24.78 | 20.56 | 27.73 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | D+ | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 13.0% | 8.6% | 12.64% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | - | 0 | 3 |
| Students staying in education | - | 67% | 36.26% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | - | 9.5% | 6.37% |
| Students entering employment | - | 20.5% | 20.03% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | - | 6.5% | 4.23% |
Best Schools 2025
Polam Hall School Rankings
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Admission
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 28th Oct 2024 - 1st Nov 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 24th Feb 2025 - 28th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 14th Apr 2025 - 25th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 21st Jul 2025 - 29th Aug 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 2nd Sep 2024 - 27th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 2nd Nov 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 23rd Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 1st Mar 2025 - 13th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 26th Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 20th Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
19 : 1
Student teacher ratio at Polam Hall School
Local authority ratio 19 : 1
