Malbank School and Sixth Form College

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE CORNOVII TRUST

Welsh Row, Nantwich, CW5 5HD

01270 611009 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 14 June 2022, before conversion
Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%England 45% · 2024/25
18th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 21% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,289Room for 1,384 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,108 in 2019, 1,087 in 2021, 1,145 in 2022, 1,176 in 2023, 1,234 in 2024, 1,271 in 2025, 1,289 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9218 for 232 places, September 2026
15th highest of 21 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 46% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 June 2022. 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

200 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 111419), before it changed to its current form.

32% — 13 points below the Cheshire East average, and 13 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 32% 45% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 42.9 47.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 32%This school 2023/24: 31%This school 2024/25: 32% This school England 45% 2022/23 32% 2023/24 31% 2024/25 32%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

186 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 111419), before it changed to its current form.

97% — 3 points above the Cheshire East average, and 5 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 36%55%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 97% 94% 92%
School sixth form 36% 40% 34%
Sixth form college 2% 7% 13%
Further education college 55% 40% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 3% 3%
Work 2% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%97%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

52 A level students in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 111419), before it changed to its current form.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Average A level grade C C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 13% 24% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 42% 50% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 30.5 33.6 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 29.1This school 2023/24: 28.0This school 2024/25: 30.5 This school England 35 2022/23 29.1 2023/24 28.0 2024/25 30.5

A level subjects, 2024/25

20 subjects, 115 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Biology 17 0% 6% 27%
Mathematics 13 15% 31% 40%
Law 10 0% 0% 17%
Psychology 8 0% 0% 19%
Chemistry 6 0% 0% 30%
Geography 6 0% 17% 23%
History 6 17% 17% 23%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 6 0% 33% 14%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design, English Literature, Government and Politics, Mathematics (Further), Physical Education / Sports Studies, English Language, Physics, Computer Studies / Computing, Design and Technology (Product Design), Sociology, Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

80 students in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 111419), before it changed to its current form.

95% — 16 points above the Cheshire East average, and 16 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 95% 79% 79%
Apprenticeship 6% 10% 7%
Work 24% 36% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%95%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

64 students in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 111419), before it changed to its current form.

73% — 23 points above the Cheshire East average, and 13 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 73% 50% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 14% 14% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
68%73%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 Cheshire East. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered232
Families who put it first218
Of those, offered a place212 (97%)
Families who listed it at all490

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Cheshire East

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
7th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.6% 18.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
9th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.9% 4.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
4th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.0% 10.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
7th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.4% 9.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
20th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 24% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.0% 7.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
19th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 40% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.5% 20.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
18th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
26.1 17.8 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
16th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.8% 5.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils 0.39% 0.19% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
12th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 41% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.4 16.4 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
17th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.5 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 21 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 69% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
16.9% 12.1%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Malbank School and Sixth Form College's Ofsted rating?

Malbank School and Sixth Form College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 June 2022.

How did Malbank School and Sixth Form College do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 13 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Malbank School and Sixth Form College oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 218 families put Malbank School and Sixth Form College as their first choice for 232 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 212 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.