St Aidan's Church of England Academy vs The Rydal Academy
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in North East, England, 960 m apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St Aidan's Church of England Academy
Darlington · Academy secondary · Ages 11–16
587 students
The Rydal Academy
Darlington · Academy primary · Ages 2–11
584 students
| Measure | St Aidan's Church of England Academy Darlington, North East | The Rydal Academy Darlington, North East |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 30 Lower 50% | 18 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #135 of 185 | #706 of 811 |
| National rank | #2963 of 4,090 | #14251 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Academy |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 11–16 | Ages 2–11 |
| Students | 587 | 584 |
| Pupils on roll | 587 | 584 |
| Free school meals | 45.3% | 51.6% |
| Capacity filled | 83.9% | 92.7% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | 46% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | 4% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 40.0 | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 40.9% | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 59.1% | – |
| EBacc average points | 3.45 | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Darlington | Darlington |
| region | North East | North East |
| Website | staidansacademy.co.uk/ | rydal.nalp.org.uk/ |
The verdict
- •St Aidan's Church of England Academy scores higher on the Success Index (England) (30.1 vs 18.3).
- •St Aidan's Church of England Academy is the larger school with 587 students compared with 584.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is St Aidan's Church of England Academy better than The Rydal Academy?
On the Success Index (England), St Aidan's Church of England Academy ranks higher (30.1 vs 18.3 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are St Aidan's Church of England Academy and The Rydal Academy?
About 960 m in a straight line, between Darlington and Darlington in North East.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
St Aidan's Church of England Academy: 587. The Rydal Academy: 584. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do St Aidan's Church of England Academy and The Rydal Academy rank in North East?
St Aidan's Church of England Academy is 135th of 185 and The Rydal Academy is 706th of 811 among secondary schools in North East on the 2025 Success Index (England).