Bellingham Middle School and Sports College
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Bellingham Middle School and Sports College is a foundation school in Hexham for boys and girls aged 9 to 13. It has 46 pupils and room for 240. About 28 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 8 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 21% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2019.
Redesmouth Road, Bellingham, Hexham, NE48 2EN01434 220235bellinghammiddle.northumberland.sch.ukMr Steve Gibson headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 8 October 2019, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall. A later, shorter visit on 2 April 2025 said: “Some aspects not as strong”.
This inspection is more than 6 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2 April 2025 | Ungraded | Some aspects not as strong |
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
11 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 11 | 12 | 24 | 32 | 27 | 24 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 18% | 50% | 50% | 66% | 59% | 58% | 60% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 0% | 0% | 9% | 4% | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 101.0 | 107.0 | 107.0 | 105.0 | 105.0 | 104.0 | 104.5 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 103.0 | 105.0 | 101.0 | 104.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 103.6 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 97.0 | 104.0 | 103.0 | 105.0 | 103.0 | 103.0 | 103.7 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 36% | 67% | 88% | 84% | 74% | 75% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 55% | 67% | 67% | 72% | 63% | 58% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 27% | 50% | 50% | 88% | 78% | 79% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +2.3 | +1.8 | +0.1 | -0.2 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -2.7 | -0.2 | -3.7 | -3.0 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | – | – | – | 14% | – | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | – | – | 75% | – | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
190 places were empty (79% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 31% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Northumberland council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (6), Moderate learning difficulty (4), emotional and mental health (2), Hearing impairment (1), language and communications needs (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 46 | 51 | 65 | 71 | 71 | 83 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 28% | 31% | 26% | 16% | 16% | 15% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 20% | 23% | 16% | 11% | 11% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 16% | 14% | 9% | 4% | 6% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 89.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 10.2% | 8.6% | 7.2% | 8.5% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 5.7% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 7.4% | 3.8% | 3.4% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 4.5% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.1% | 0.1% | 1.3% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 22.4% | 20.6% | 15.1% | 16.4% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 19.6 | 7.7 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 3.6 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham Primary School | Foundation | 0 m | 64 | No overall grade 2025 | 46 | Compare |
| Wark Church of England Primary School | Academy | 4.1 miles | 69 | Report card 2026 | 78 | Compare |
| Greenhaugh Primary School | Council | 4.1 miles | 13 | Good 2022 | 88 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Bellingham Middle School and Sports College with the 46 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 8 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 8% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 3 to 18. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 0% | no data | – | |
| Ofsted inspection | 11% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old) | in line | +0.03 | Ofsted grade, 6.9 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 0% | no data | – | |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.98 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | -0.05 | 2024/25; 58 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 0% | no data | – | |
| What pupils do next | 0% | no data | – | |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Bellingham Middle School and Sports College a good school?
The figures are weak. Bellingham Middle School and Sports College scores 8 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 21% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 3 to 18, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
What is Bellingham Middle School and Sports College's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Bellingham Middle School and Sports College good at its last full inspection on 8 October 2019. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.
How good are Bellingham Middle School and Sports College's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 18% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Bellingham Middle School and Sports College have?
46 pupils aged 9 to 13 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 240 places, so it is 19% full.
Is Bellingham Middle School and Sports College oversubscribed?
Probably not. 190 places were empty in 2024/25 (79% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
Pupils were in school 89.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 22% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
The average class had 10.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. No class had more than 30 pupils.
Does Bellingham Middle School and Sports College have a sixth form?
No. Pupils leave after Year 11 for a sixth form elsewhere, a college or an apprenticeship.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Redesmouth Road, Bellingham, Hexham, NE48 2EN
- Telephone
- 01434 220235
- Website
- www.bellinghammiddle.northumberland.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mr Steve Gibson
- Type of school
- Foundation school (Foundation school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Middle school, ages 9-13
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- None
- Local authority
- Northumberland
- Ward
- Bellingham
- Constituency
- Hexham
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 January 1900
- URN
- 122350 · LAESTAB 9294361 · UKPRN 10007895
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, consistent financial reporting 2024/25.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.