Schools by area › West Northamptonshire › Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School
Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Free school
Trinity Avenue, Northampton NN2 6JW · malcolmarnoldprep.co.uk · 01604 931130
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jun 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 75%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. West Northamptonshire 63%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 401
- 95% of 420 places
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 18.5%
- First language not English
- 37.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 43 families put the school first and 44 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 44 | 43 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 40 | 38 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 48 | 48 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 46 | 41 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 54 | 53 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 18% the higher standard. Across West Northamptonshire it was 63%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲75% | 62% | ||
| ▲18% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| Grammar and spelling | ●105 | 105 | |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 28 June 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 27 Jun 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2017
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
67% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (78 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 67%
- Replies
- 78
- 19% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 53% who had a child bullied
based on 14 parents (18%) with SEND