Meadowdale Academy

Meadowdale Academy is performing well overall, with a consistent grade of 'Good' across all areas. This is the first inspection since the school converted to an academy and it has successfully created a welcoming environment, fostering respectful relationships between staff and pupils. The school has a strong commitment to personal development, providing numerous opportunities for students to engage and develop their talents, while effectively supporting those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Additionally, they have introduced an ambitious curriculum that prepares students well for future learning across subjects, particularly in reading and mathematics. While the school demonstrates many strengths, there are areas that need attention. Some students struggle with subject-specific vocabulary in mathematics, hindering their ability to justify answers effectively. Additionally, inconsistencies in handwriting among some pupils indicate a need for a more uniform approach to teaching across the school. These factors are important for leaders to address as they continue to build on the school's positive trajectory of improvement.

Strengths

• Strong commitment to personal development and citizenship.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils, creating a welcoming environment.
• Ambitious curriculum that effectively prepares pupils for future learning.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND, ensuring their achievement alongside peers.
• Leaders provide excellent support and training for teachers.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils struggle to remember subject-specific vocabulary in mathematics.
• Inconsistencies in handwriting among some pupils.

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 Meadowdale Academy attended 96.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.6% 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, 2.1% of pupils at Meadowdale Academy 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 Meadowdale Academy had 25.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.5% 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, 11.4% of pupils at Meadowdale Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% 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 2024–25 Meadowdale Academy received £7,973 and spent £7,799 for each of its 189 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £48,000 (£252 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of North East Learning Trust, income was £8,623 and spending £8,502 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Meadowdale Academy is part of North East Learning Trust, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

• Bedlington Academy Bedlington
• Ashington Academy Ashington
• Churchill Academy Wallsend
• Carville Academy Wallsend
• Biddick Academy Washington
• Diamond Hall Junior Academy Sunderland
• Hermitage Academy Chester Le Street
• Sacriston Academy Durham
• Easington Academy Peterlee
• Browney Primary Academy Browney

What is Meadowdale Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Meadowdale Academy is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Meadowdale Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Meadowdale Academy was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Meadowdale Academy have?

Meadowdale Academy has 202 pupils on roll.

What age range does Meadowdale Academy cover?

Meadowdale Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Meadowdale Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Meadowdale Academy?

Meadowdale Academy is at Hazelmere Avenue, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 6HA.