Blackpool Gateway Academy, Blackpool

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~419m)Possible (~598m)Unlikely (~777m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Headteacher Miss Makinson
Pupils:287 / 420 capacity
LA:Blackpool
Phone:01253402936
Address:Seymour Road, Blackpool, FY1 6JH
Trust:FYLDE COAST ACADEMY TRUST
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2015

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:142175
UKPRN:10053348
Constituency:Blackpool South
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Blackpool Gateway Academy excels at making every child feel welcomed and included, with staff providing wraparound support that extends beyond the classroom to help families overcome barriers to learning and attendance. The school has created a calm, positive environment where behavior is strong and bullying is extremely rare. Early years provision is particularly strong, with children developing excellent phonics skills and language abilities, setting them up well for Year 1.

Key Strengths

  • Strong safeguarding culture with open communication and swift action on concerns
  • Excellent behavior management and pastoral support that helps pupils thrive despite challenging circumstances
  • Highly effective inclusion practices with comprehensive induction for new pupils
  • Well-designed early years curriculum with strong focus on phonics and language development
  • Leaders and staff demonstrate genuine care and commitment to pupil wellbeing

Areas for Improvement

  • Achievement lags behind national averages due to gaps in basic knowledge not being addressed precisely enough
  • Teaching quality is inconsistent across subjects, with curriculum established but not yet taught consistently well
  • Writing instruction needs strengthening, particularly in key stages 1 and 2
  • Attendance remains a challenge, particularly for pupils joining mid-year
  • Limited opportunities for pupils to practice and apply mathematics knowledge

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Dance, theatre performances, sports events, computing skills, museum visits, theatre visits, city visits

Blackpool Gateway Academy is a newly established school that has created a warm, inclusive culture where pupils feel safe and supported. While the school excels in safeguarding, behavior, and pastoral care, achievement and teaching consistency remain areas needing development.

At a Glance

69.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

SLCN - Speech, language and Communication

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+7ppMaths+15ppWriting+13pp

Reading has improved from 44% to 51%. Maths has improved from 38% to 53%. Writing has improved from 45% to 58%.

Class Sizes

24.8

Avg class size

25.3

Infant (KS1)

25.6

KS2

13

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Blackpool South Rail Station (entrance)
468m · 8 min walk

Tube / Metro / Tram

St Chad's (Blackpool Tramway) (S-bound)
495m · 8 min walk

Bus Stops

Bloomfield Road (by)
231m · 4 min walk
St Peters Church (opp)
233m · 4 min walk
St Chad's Road (by)
236m · 4 min walk
Alexandra Road (by)
266m · 4 min walk
Baron Road (opp)
275m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

68%

Available places

287 pupils

420 capacity

133 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Blackpool

Low pressure
New homes approved:1,729
Projected new pupils:432

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Blackpool

Admissions Demand - Blackpool

Low demand0.78x oversubscription

Places available

1,670

Applications

1,299

Got 1st preference

93.5%

Got preferred school

97.7%

Primary admissions across Blackpool (2025/26)

Inspection History(104)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

7.53894%

Overall absence

24.2236%

Persistent absence

322

Enrolments

Authorised3.16079%
Unauthorised4.37815%
Persistent (10%+)24.2236%
Severe (50%+)2.48447%

Absence trend

5.43249%
18/19
6.0655%
20/21
7.51423%
21/22
9.37758%
22/23
7.46731%
23/24
7.53894%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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