Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School
Trinity Avenue, Northampton, NN2 6JWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School is a primary school in Northampton for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 204 schools in West Northamptonshire. It ranks 23rd of 95 primary schools in Northampton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2017.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 11 July 2017, report published 13 September 2017
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 27 June 2023
This is a friendly school where everyone is welcome. The school's vision of 'Love yourself, love others, love the world,' is central to life at Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School. Pupils say that they feel happy and safe. One pupil explained: 'The staff are supportive and help you aspire to be what you want to be.' Leaders do everything they can to keep pupils safe in school. Their expectations of pupils are high. The learning environment is calm and purposeful. Pupils behave well and enjoy working together. They like the new behaviour system and think it is very fair. Pupils know that they can talk to staff about any concerns or leave a message in their 'butterfly boxes'. Leaders promote pupils' personal development and their academic achievement. Pupils enjoy the range of clubs and activities on offer. They like the opportunities to learn a musical instrument or how to crochet, and participate in sporting events. The trustees and new leaders are settling the school after a great deal of change. They have a sharp understanding of what is working well and what needs to be improved next. They are very aware of taking the school community with them as they continue the developments.
What the school should improve
- The targets for some pupils with SEND are not as precise as they could be. This means that some of these pupils do not achieve as well as they could because necessary adaptations to teaching are not made. Leaders have very recently established rigorous systems to assess and meet these pupils' individual needs. Leaders should make sure that all pupils with SEND continue to receive the support they need to enable them to access the full curriculum and achieve as highly as they can.
- Some parents who responded to the inspection questionnaire, including those of pupils with SEND, expressed concern relating to communication from and between the school. This means that some parents are not satisfied that the school communicates with them effectively. Leaders should consider ways to engage more effectively with parents, including parents of pupils with SEND, over time so that lines of communication are improved.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
57 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
401 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsthorpe Grove Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 42% met the expected standard |
| The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
| Kingsley Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 51% met the expected standard |
| Green Oaks Primary Academy | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 53% met the expected standard |
| Kingsthorpe Village Primary School | 0.8 miles | Report card: Expected standard | 53% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Free schools
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- THE DAVID ROSS EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Tracey Hudson
- Phone
- 01604931130
- Address
- Trinity Avenue, Northampton, NN2 6JW
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- URN
- 140946
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.