Secondary school

Malcolm Arnold Academy

  • Academy Sponsor Led
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Church of England
  • West Northamptonshire
  • NN2 6JW
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected May 2018

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,377 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 73%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 86%86%2016/17: top 86%2017/18: top 87%2018/19: top 79%2021/22: top 47%47% · 2021/222022/23: top 70%2023/24: top 58%2024/25: top 73%No exams

A-level results

#120 of 190 East Midlands sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against East Midlands

Attainment 841.4 · East Midlands 454/10 Below−24.4 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths37.8% · East Midlands 41.6%5/10 Middle
EBacc point score3.7 · East Midlands 3.94/10 Below−22 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.04 · East Midlands −0.066/10 Middle+16 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry31.08 · East Midlands 33.224/10 Below+21.8 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 43.6 · 209 pupils · East Midlands 49.32016/17: 39.3 · 220 pupils · East Midlands 452017/18: 38.4 · 223 pupils · East Midlands 44.652018/19: 40.5 · 234 pupils · East Midlands 45.72021/22: 49 · 224 pupils · East Midlands 47.52022/23: 42 · 229 pupils · East Midlands 44.62023/24: 44.2 · 222 pupils · East Midlands 44.952024/25: 41.4 · 241 pupils · East Midlands 45.054938.4No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 27% · 220 pupils · East Midlands 39%2017/18: 25% · 223 pupils · East Midlands 39.5%2018/19: 30% · 234 pupils · East Midlands 40%2021/22: 43% · 224 pupils · East Midlands 46%2022/23: 36% · 229 pupils · East Midlands 41%2023/24: 41.9% · 222 pupils · East Midlands 43.8%2024/25: 37.8% · 241 pupils · East Midlands 41.6%43%25%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 26.64 · 70 pupils · East Midlands 28.712016/17: 21.28 · 73 pupils · East Midlands 28.822017/18: 25.31 · 63 pupils · East Midlands 29.892018/19: 26.02 · 48 pupils · East Midlands 30.462021/22: 31.06 · 59 pupils · East Midlands 36.542022/23: 22.89 · 56 pupils · East Midlands 32.222023/24: 27.66 · 66 pupils · East Midlands 31.622024/25: 31.08 · 30 pupils · East Midlands 33.2231.0821.28No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
166 of 166 who put it first2022 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st166166
2nd12847
3rd11713

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2010–2023

  1. 2010Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2012Good
  3. 2015Inadequate
  4. 2016Requires improvement
  5. 2017Ungraded visit
  6. 2018Good
  7. 2020Ungraded visit
  8. 2023Remains Good

5 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • 16 to 19 study programmes
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,278
Free school meals (past 6 years)25.2%
First language not English35.6%
SEN support11.7%
EHC plan1.1%
Absence (sessions missed)9.3%
Persistently absent pupils23.7%

Girls 43.2%Boys 56.8%

88.1% full · 1,450 places · 70 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 122 responses (9% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school73.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school79.5% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved63.9% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 59% not applicable42% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year56.6% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 18.9% not applicable59.6% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed60.6% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child72.1% agree
  • My child does well at this school68.8% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing63.1% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school72.1% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school94.3% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development67.2% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent68.8% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher18.9
Pupils per adult12.7
  • Classroom teachers 57.6
  • Leadership 10
  • Teaching assistants 12.7
  • Other support 45.8

Teachers 67.6 FTE · Whole workforce 126.1 · 143 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,978
Spend per pupil£6,650
Staff spend per pupil£5,256
Reserve per pupil£1,328
  • +£1,736,000revenue reserve
  • +£1,736,000in-year balance

Grants £7,899 · self-generated £111 · premises £490 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: THE DAVID ROSS EDUCATION TRUST (36 academies) · trust reserve £9,135,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

222 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained90.5%
  • Education86.5%
  • Apprenticeship2.7%
  • Employment1.4%
  • Not sustained7.2%
  • Unknown2.3%

After sixth form (16–18)

79 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained87.3%
  • Education63.3%
  • Higher education63.3%
  • Apprenticeship5.1%
  • Employment19%
  • Not sustained11.4%
  • Unknown1.3%