Matchborough First School Academy
117%
Capacity
363
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Matchborough First School Academy
Matchborough First School Academy is a school that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 98 applications for just 62 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.58. Every one of those 62 places went to a first-preference applicant, which suggests strong local confidence in the school. The school is a state primary for children aged 3 to 9, located in Redditch within Worcestershire. It has a nursery provision and is non-denominational. With 363 pupils on roll against a capacity of 310, the school is running above its official capacity, which is another sign of its popularity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 24%, which is a notable figure for context.
Academically, the school has made a clear improvement in recent years. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in March 2024, Matchborough was rated Good overall, with Good marks across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a significant step up from its previous inspection in October 2021, when it was rated Requires Improvement across most areas, including overall effectiveness. The school does not have a sixth form, so its academic focus is on the primary years. While specific Key Stage 2 SATs results are not provided in this data, the local authority average for KS2 attainment in Worcestershire is 61%, which gives a benchmark for parents to investigate further. The school’s improvement trajectory is the standout story here.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including an ICT suite, sports hall, music rooms, a sensory room, and playing fields. Sports on offer include athletics, netball, cross country, and dance, while clubs range from eco club and book club to gardening and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, the school has a dedicated SEN unit and provisions for a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and specific learning difficulties like dyslexia. The school is oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is essential. Matchborough suits families who want a primary school that has demonstrably turned around its performance, offers strong early years and SEND support, and is in high demand locally.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 9 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Matchborough Way, Redditch, Redditch, B98 0GD |
| Headteacher | Lynn Briers |
| Local Authority | Worcestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 363 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.0% |
| School Capacity | 363 / 310 (117% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed62
98
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
62 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British78.0%
- White (other)8.5%
- Mixed5.2%
- Asian3.1%
- Black0.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
8
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matchborough First School Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Matchborough Way, Redditch
Redditch, B98 0GD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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