Bellingham Middle School and Sports College
About Bellingham Middle School and Sports College
Bellingham Middle School and Sports College is a state-funded mixed secondary in Northumberland, serving pupils aged 9 to 13. It sits within a local authority of 27 secondary schools, where only two hold an Outstanding rating. Among its top-performing peers in the area are The King Edward VI School, Ashington Academy and Queen Elizabeth High School, though Bellingham takes a notably different shape: with just 51 pupils against a capacity of 240, it is one of the smallest schools in the county. The school has a Good rating from Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement in 2017. Its most recent graded inspection in 2019 rated leadership, behaviour, personal development and the quality of education all as Good, and an ungraded visit in 2025 confirmed that some aspects of the school are not as strong, though the overall effectiveness remains Good. Over a third of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 13 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Apr 2025Latest monitoring visit (2 Apr 2025): Some aspects not as strong
Source: Ofsted, 22 Oct 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: bellinghammiddle.northumberland.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bellingham Middle School and Sports College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications