SchoolScoresCentral Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of WISE ACADEMIES
Milburn Road, Ashington, NE63 0AX
01670 810570 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 25 October 2023. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
38 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Ashington comparisons use the 5 of its 6 state primary schools with comparable results. The other one has no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Ashington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashington. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashington. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashington. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashington. Higher than 62% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 55% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 34 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashington. Higher than 36% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 80% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ashington. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Ashington figures pool parents at the Ashington schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
85 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 131021), before it changed to its current form.
52% — 6 points below the Northumberland average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 52% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 65% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 73% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 62% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Northumberland. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 68 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 67 |
| Of those, offered a place | 67 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 80 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Higher than 97% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 62.9% | 24.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.1% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 3.4%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Lower than 13% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.8% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Lower than 18% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 18.4% | 10.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Lower than 16% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.9 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Lower than 14% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 5th highest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Higher than 33% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.1 | 18.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Higher than 37% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.0 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 6 state primary schools in Ashington. Higher than 57% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.5% | 14.1%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- NCEA Thomas Bewick CofE Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Ashington 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2021, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- NCEA James Knott CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bothal Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023, before conversion) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- NCEA Bishop's Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 36% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stakeford Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ringway Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 24% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mowbray Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- Choppington Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Central Academy's Ofsted rating?
Central Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 October 2023.
How did Central Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 52% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Central Academy?
92% of the 38 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Central Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Central Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 67 families put Central Academy as their first choice for 68 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 67 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 152255.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.