Classpot

Malvin's Close Academy

Northumberland, NE24 5BLPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jan 2023
KS2 Results
55%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
53 1st-choice / 53 places
Ranking
#9,389
of 13,686 nationally

About Malvin's Close Academy

Malvin's Close Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 53 first-preference applications for 53 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, meaning every family who put it first got a spot. The school was oversubscribed overall, receiving 78 applications for those 53 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.47. That kind of demand suggests parents are voting with their feet. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023 rated it Outstanding across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — a remarkable turnaround from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2016. With 440 pupils on roll, very close to its capacity of 450, the school is clearly a fixture in the local community. It also offers nursery provision for children from age 3, which can be a big practical help for working parents.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
AddressMalvin's Close Academy, Albion Way, Malvin's Close Academy, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 5BL
HeadteacherJoanne Holmes
Local AuthorityNorthumberland
Number of Pupils440
Free School Meals (FSM)40.9%
School Capacity440 / 450 (98% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

24 Jan 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 16 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Outdoor PlaygroundLibraryICT SuiteGymnasiumForest SchoolPlaying Fields

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

SwimmingRoundersCross CountryGymnasticsCricketAthletics

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubDramaChoirChessCodingArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Malvin's Close Academy

Malvin's Close Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.