Croftway Academy

About Croftway Academy

Croftway Academy is a state primary school in Northumberland, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in its most recent 2023 inspection. It sits within a local authority where only nine out of 127 primary schools hold that top grade, placing it among a select group. In the Northumberland rankings for KS2 expected standards in reading, writing and maths, Croftway ranks 9th out of 58 schools, comfortably inside the top 25% nationally. Its closest Outstanding neighbour is Malvin's Close Academy, 1.1 km away, while the top three peers in the LA — Eastlea Primary School, Belsay Primary School, and St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Ashington — all score slightly higher on the same ranking metric. With 416 pupils on roll and a capacity of 450, the school is nearly full, and its 42% pupil premium rate is well above the national average, reflecting a diverse intake.

Academically, Croftway's 2023/24 KS2 results are strong. 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Northumberland LA average of 56%. In reading, 86% met the expected standard and 39% achieved the higher standard — a notably high figure. Maths saw 81% at expected and 15% at the higher level, with an average scaled score of 104. Writing was slightly lower, with 76% at expected and 8% at the higher standard. The school's overall ranking score of 73 is built on this combined expected measure, and it sits in the top 25% nationally. Ofsted's 2023 inspection awarded Grade 1 (Outstanding) across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a dramatic turnaround from the school's previous 2017 inspection, which rated it Inadequate overall.

Croftway offers a nursery for three-year-olds and a range of facilities including a sports hall, dining hall, playing fields, a forest school, an outdoor playground and a gymnasium. Sports on offer include netball, tennis, football and cricket, and clubs include gardening, book club and eco club. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disabilities. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed: 83 applications for 46 places, with 45 first-preference offers made and an oversubscription ratio of 1.8. This suggests strong local demand, and families considering Croftway should be aware that securing a place is competitive. It suits families who value strong academic outcomes, outdoor learning through forest school, and a school that has demonstrably improved its standards.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Croftway Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents