Schools by area › West Northamptonshire › Malcolm Arnold Academy
Malcolm Arnold Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Trinity Avenue, Northampton NN2 6JW · malcolmarnoldacademy.co.uk · 01604 778000
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.4
- average Attainment 8 score. West Northamptonshire 44.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · West Northamptonshire Council
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,278
- 88% of 1,450 places
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 25.4%
- First language not English
- 35.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: West Northamptonshire Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 166 families put the school first and 235 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 235 | 166 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 236 | 176 | 0.7 | 94% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 237 | 188 | 0.8 | 96% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 235 | 189 | 0.8 | 91% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 244 | 157 | 0.6 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.4, and 37.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across West Northamptonshire it was 44.7, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (31.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼37.8% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼57.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼37.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.70 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 30.6 | −12.3 |
| Further education | 55.9 | +10.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.7 | +1.4 |
| Employment | 1.4 | −0.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.2 | +0.5 |
| Activity not captured | 2.3 | +0.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 students | C (31.1) | Average +0.12 | |
| 30 students | C (31.1) | Average +0.12 | |
| 8 students | Dist+ (40.2) | Well above average +1.20 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 66 | C- (27.7) | -0.26 |
| 2022/23 | 56 | D+ (22.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 59 | C (31.1) | — |
| 2018/19 | 48 | C- (26) | -0.52 |
| 2017/18 | 63 | C- (25.3) | -0.21 |
| 2016/17 | 73 | D (21.3) | -0.30 |
| 2015/16 | 70 | C- (26.6) | -0.08 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 63.3 | +5.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.1 | +2.2 |
| Employment | 19 | −6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 11.4 | +2.6 |
| Activity not captured | 1.3 | −1.6 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 8 November 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for Malcolm Arnold Academy was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 7 Nov 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, May 2018
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2020Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Met
Before September 2019
May 2018Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective May 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Mar 2015Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
69% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (122 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 69%
- Replies
- 122
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 81% who raised concerns
based on the 41% who had a child bullied
based on 33 parents (27%) with SEND