Morpeth First School

Morpeth First School has demonstrated a good level of performance across various aspects of education since its previous outstanding inspection in 2007. Pupils express a strong sense of belonging and well-being, feeling empowered and supported by staff. The curriculum has been redesigned to ensure a broad and balanced education, with positive outcomes noted, particularly in early mathematics and reading. However, despite the overall positive findings, there are areas for improvement, particularly in the consistency of subject knowledge delivery in geography and physical education, indicating a need for enhanced teaching practices in these areas.

Strengths

• Pupils feel treasured, courageous, and empowered.
• Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Strong relationships exist between pupils and staff.
• Positive character education is a key focus, helping pupils develop resilience.
• Effective measures are in place to ensure that reading and phonics are prioritized.
• Pupils with SEND receive well-coordinated support.
• A wide range of clubs and activities enhance pupil engagement and development.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of curriculum plans in geography and physical education.
• Variable subject knowledge among some teachers affecting learning outcomes.
• Older pupils are less engaged in their learning compared to younger ones.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Morpeth First School attended 96.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.9% of pupils at Morpeth First School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Morpeth First School had 22.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 11.2% of pupils at Morpeth First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Morpeth First School received £6,732 and spent £6,965 for each of its 314 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £134,000 (-£427 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Morpeth · Northumberland local authority: places and applications

What is Morpeth First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Morpeth First School is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.

When was Morpeth First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Morpeth First School was last inspected in February 2023.

How many pupils does Morpeth First School have?

Morpeth First School has 320 pupils on roll.

What age range does Morpeth First School cover?

Morpeth First School for pupils aged 3 to 9.

Where is Morpeth First School?

Morpeth First School is at Loansdean, Morpeth, NE61 2AP.