Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School, Northampton

From the headteacher's welcome: "David Ross Education Trust schools create a rich and exciting learning environment that inspires students to become their confident, academic best. Malcolm Arnold Prep is committed to ensuring every pupil excels both inside and the classroom and later on in their lives."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, athletics, gymnastics, cross-country, dance and debating.

In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in West Northamptonshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 81% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School as their first choice and 83 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School are Kingsthorpe Grove Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 60% reading, 62% maths); The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 77% reading, 70% maths); Kingsley Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 72% maths); and Green Oaks Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 63% reading, 67% maths).

Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School is one of 36 schools run by The David Ross Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

37.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (36%), Black (15%) and Asian (7%).

In 2026, 71 pupils (17.7%) received SEN support and 6 (1.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 59 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Northampton Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Golf Club (opposite), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 562 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Northamptonshire (90), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School issued 2 suspensions, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School are Malcolm Arnold Academy (under 0.1 miles), Northampton International Academy (0.7 miles), Northampton School for Girls (1.1 miles) and Kingsthorpe College (1.2 miles).