Polam Hall School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Darlington
Polam Hall School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 23 January 2026, 5 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5PA
How it compares in Darlington
That puts Polam Hall School among the 755 places in Darlington holding top marks, 90% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 755 | 90% | ← Polam Hall School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 79 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Polam Hall School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Polam Hall School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bannatyne Hotel Darlington Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 425 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| Auton Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2023 |
| Clervaux Life Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2023 |
| Clervaux Garden School Shop Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 December 2024 |
| Aoithip Thai Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 April 2026 |
| Black Olive Deli Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 June 2024 |
| Age Uk (Cafe And The Arcade Dementia Centre) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Aly's Mart Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2026 |
Questions about Polam Hall School
What is Polam Hall School's food hygiene rating?
Polam Hall School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 23 January 2026.
Is Polam Hall School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Polam Hall School last inspected?
Polam Hall School was last inspected on 23 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Darlington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Polam Hall School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Polam Hall School compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and Polam Hall School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Polam Hall School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Polam Hall School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Darlington inspects and rates 915 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Darlington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.darlington.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →