Macmillan Academy

About Macmillan Academy

Macmillan Academy is a large secondary school in Middlesbrough that is clearly in high demand. With 1,565 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,650, it is operating very close to full, and the oversubscription figures tell a striking story: for 256 places in the 2025/26 intake, the school received 997 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.89. Of those, 341 were first-preference applications, and 241 first-preference offers were made. The school’s intake is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage: 44.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the local context of Middlesbrough. This is a mixed, non-faith state secondary with a sixth form, and it serves the full 11–19 age range. The headteacher is R Coning, and the school is rated Good by Ofsted.

Academically, Macmillan Academy performs solidly against a challenging local backdrop. Its Progress 8 score is -0.14, which is classified as ‘Average’ and places it well above the Middlesbrough local authority average of -0.45. In fact, it ranks 2nd out of 7 schools in the LA on this measure, and 61st out of 142 in the North East region. Attainment 8 sits at 47.5, and 68.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 58.3%, with 29.1% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school’s value added score is -0.26, which is banded as ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry is 35.01, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B- as well. Ofsted’s most recent inspection in 2022 rated every category as Good, including sixth form provision, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, a sports hall, music rooms, art studios, an ICT suite, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include swimming, hockey, netball, gymnastics, and martial arts, while clubs range from Film Club and Debate to Model UN, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. For families weighing up options in Middlesbrough, Macmillan Academy stands out as a heavily oversubscribed, Good-rated school that delivers above-average progress relative to the local authority. It suits families who want a large, inclusive secondary with strong core GCSE outcomes and a wide co-curricular offer, but who are realistic about A-level value added being below the national average.

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