Middle schools in England are defined in English and Welsh law as being schools in which the age range of pupils starts younger than 10 years and six months and finishes older than 12 years of age.[1]

The number of middle schools, including combined schools for children aged between 5 and 12, reached a peak of over 1400 by 1983.[2] In 2019 there were 107 middle schools remaining in England, operating in just 14 local authority areas.

History

Middle schools were permitted by the Education Act of 1964, which made additional arrangements to allow for schools which crossed the traditional primary-secondary threshold at age 11. Notably, these changes did not define a new type of school, but rather permitted a variation on existing schemes, while providing for regulations which allowed the Secretary of State to determine whether such schools should be treated as primary or secondary.[3] This had not been provided for in the Education Act of 1944.[4]

The move, pushed forward by Alec Clegg, then Chief Education Officer of the West Riding of Yorkshire County Council, was initially part of a process to introduce comprehensive schools in secondary education. Clegg proposed a model of middle schools for students aged 9 to 13, crossing the traditional divide at age 11[5] as early as 1960, with the scheme fully implemented in September 1969.[6] Earlier moves by the local authority in Leicestershire had seen the introduction of two-tier secondary schools for students aged 11 to 14, and 14 to 18 as early as the late 1950s.[7]

The 1964 Act was followed in July 1965 by Circular 10/65 from the then Labour government requesting that local education authorities put forward plans to introduce comprehensive schools in their areas. However, the circular offered only limited support for a change to a three-tier model of middle schools, as the minister had already requested a review of the age of transfer to secondary schools as part of the Plowden enquiry into Children and their primary schools.[8][9] The Plowden report published in 1967 encouraged the development of middle schools for students aged 8 to 12, developing from existing junior schools.[10]

The law required that all schools were classified as either primary or secondary depending on the age range of students.[5] By 1970, over 100 middle deemed secondary schools were in operation with around 30 deemed primary schools.[11] The number of middle schools, including combined schools for children aged between 5 and 12, rose continuously over the next decade, reaching a peak of over 1400 such schools by 1983,[2][12] with the primary model rapidly overtaking the secondary following the publication of the Plowden report. However, from that time onwards, the number of middle schools fell each year.

The introduction of the National Curriculum with set Key Stages aligned with the old primary/secondary model further affected the numbers of schools, with a quarter of middle schools closing in the five years after its introduction.[11] Issues of falling rolls, and queries raised about the academic progress of students in three-tier systems led to further closures.[12]

Statistics

In 2019 there were 107 middle schools remaining in England, operating in 14 local authority areas, ranging from the 117-pupil Glendale Middle School in Northumberland, to the 1000-pupil Biggleswade Academy in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

In the table below, the URN refers to the unique reference number for each school, linking to its page on the Ofsted website. Also from the table below, it can be seen that middle deemed primary schools have now been almost completely abolished across England.

Indicative map of location and number of Middle Schools in England. Blue markers indicate primary middle schools; red markers indicate those deemed-Secondary.

Middle schools

Bedford Borough

Schools in the unitary authority, operated by Bedfordshire County Council until April 2009. Following consultation in the summer of 2009 the authority intended to re-introduce two-tier provision from 2013, closing all middle schools by 2015.[13] However, on 7 July 2010, it was announced that the change from 3-tier to 2-tier "would be scrapped"; the reason given being cuts in government funding to schools made by the Coalition Government.[14] One Middle School closed in 2011[15] and two more closed in 2014.[16] In July 2015, the borough council announced its intention to support schools in the introduction of a borough-wide move to two-tier provision.[17] As a result, all but one middle school reorganised as primary or secondary by 2019.

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Marston Vale Middle SchoolStewartby9–13Secondary464145861

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Poole Borough Council closed all of its middle-deemed-primary schools in August 2013.[19] Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council became the successor Local Education Authority in 2019.

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Broadstone Middle SchoolBroadstone9–13Secondary479141184

Central Bedfordshire

Schools in the unitary authority, operated by Bedfordshire County Council until April 2009. Some locality groups, such as schools in Dunstable, have undergone local re-organisations to remove middle schools. The local authority supports the principle of moving to primary and secondary provision.[20]

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Alameda Middle SchoolAmpthill9–13Secondary715137249
Arnold AcademyBarton-le-Clay9–13Secondary658136829
Biggleswade AcademyBiggleswade2–13Primary1174137947
Brooklands Middle SchoolLeighton Buzzard9–13Secondary518137636
Edward Peake Middle SchoolBiggleswade9–13Secondary519109694
Etonbury Academy[fn 1]Arlesey9–16Secondary1071137632
Fulbrook SchoolWoburn Sands9–16Secondary425137904
Gilbert Inglefield AcademyLeighton Buzzard9–13Secondary424138003
Holywell CE (VA) Middle SchoolCranfield9–13Secondary658138844
Leighton Middle SchoolLeighton Buzzard9–13Secondary556109689
Linslade SchoolLinslade9–13Secondary633136766
Parkfields Middle SchoolToddington9–13Secondary457109662
Pix Brook Academy[fn 2]Arlesey9–16Secondary120147081
Priory AcademyDunstable9–16Secondary699138181
Robert Bloomfield Academy[fn 3]Shefford9–13Secondary946136713
Woodland Middle School AcademyFlitwick9–13Secondary621136560

Dorset

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Allenbourn Middle SchoolWimborne Minster9–13Secondary600113859
Cranborne Middle SchoolCranborne9–13Secondary407113853
Dorchester Middle SchoolDorchester9–13Secondary617138186
Emmanuel CofE Middle SchoolVerwood9–13Secondary410113894
Ferndown Middle SchoolFerndown9–13Secondary586113878
Lockyer's Middle SchoolCorfe Mullen9–13Secondary466113862
St Mary's CofE Middle SchoolPuddletown9–13Secondary481138189
St Michael's Church of England Middle SchoolColehill9–13Secondary577113891
St Osmund's Church of England Middle SchoolDorchester9–13Secondary701138165
West Moors Middle SchoolWest Moors9–13Secondary210113861

Hertfordshire

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Edwinstree CofE Middle SchoolBuntingford9–13Secondary434117554
Ralph Sadleir SchoolPuckeridge9–13Secondary404140249
King James Academy, RoystonRoyston9–18Secondary911137656

Kirklees

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Kirkburton Middle SchoolKirkburton10–13Secondary509143791
Scissett Middle SchoolScissett10–13Secondary599143792

Newcastle upon Tyne

A new school is proposed to open at Great Park, Gosforth in 2020, which will be a middle school with age range 9-16.[21]

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Gosforth Central Middle SchoolGosforth9–13Secondary514108519
Gosforth East Middle SchoolGosforth9–13Secondary512108521
Gosforth Junior High Academy[fn 4]Gosforth9–13Secondary700136348

North Tyneside

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Marden Bridge Middle SchoolWhitley Bay9–13Secondary549108635
Monkseaton Middle SchoolMonkseaton9–13Secondary294108637
Valley Gardens Middle SchoolMonkseaton9–13Secondary762108636
Wellfield Middle SchoolSouth Wellfield9–13Secondary323108649

Northumberland

Northumberland County Council began a process of closing middle schools across the authority in 2006. This was discontinued as a universal policy following funding difficulties but middle schools have continued to close, merge into all through academies or change to primaries with 27 Northumberland middle schools having ceased to be middle schools since 2006 and a further school - James Calvert Spence College - will cease to be a middle school from September 2025.

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Bellingham Middle SchoolBellingham9–13Secondary95122350
Berwick Middle SchoolBerwick-upon-Tweed9–13Secondary306122354
Chantry Middle SchoolMorpeth9–13Secondary546137747
Corbridge Middle SchoolCorbridge9–13Secondary349122326
Dr Thomlinson CE Middle SchoolRothbury9–13Secondary225145639
Glendale Middle SchoolWooler9–13Secondary115122352
Hexham Middle SchoolHexham9–13Secondary455122364
Highfield Middle SchoolPrudhoe9–13Secondary419122340
James Calvert Spence CollegeAmble9–18Secondary734122363
Newminster Middle SchoolMorpeth9–13Secondary526137748
Ovingham Middle SchoolOvingham9–13Secondary349122341
St Joseph's RC Middle SchoolHexham9–13Secondary336122369
Seaton Sluice Middle SchoolSeaton Sluice9–13Secondary326122334
Tweedmouth Middle SchoolBerwick-upon-Tweed9–13Secondary304122348
Whytrig Middle SchoolSeaton Delaval9–13Secondary231122335

Somerset

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Danesfield CofE Middle SchoolWilliton9–13Secondary318123895
Fairlands Middle SchoolCheddar9–13Secondary483123888
Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle SchoolBlackford9–13Secondary585123897
Maiden Beech AcademyCrewkerne9–13Secondary392137118
Minehead Middle SchoolMinehead9–13Secondary566136774
Oakfield AcademyFrome9–13Secondary644136970
Selwood AcademyFrome9–13Secondary631137741
Swanmead Community SchoolIlminster9–13Secondary270123875

Staffordshire

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Bilbrook CofE Middle SchoolCodsall9–13Secondary99124453
Brewood Middle CE AcademyBrewood9–13Secondary420124452
Christ Church AcademyStone9–13Secondary580136961
Churnet View Middle SchoolLeek9–13Secondary437124436
Codsall Middle SchoolCodsall9–13Secondary546124424
James Bateman Middle SchoolBiddulph9–13Secondary385124428
Oldfields Hall Middle SchoolUttoxeter9–13Secondary506145376
Penkridge Middle SchoolPenkridge9–13Secondary454144206
Perton Middle SchoolPerton9–13Secondary373124437
Ryecroft CE Middle SchoolRocester9–13Secondary201145375
St Edwards CofE(VA) Junior High SchoolLeek9–13Secondary724139171
Walton Priory Middle SchoolStone9–13Secondary461124426
Windsor Park CE Middle SchoolUttoxeter9–13Secondary325144007
Woodhouse AcademyBiddulph9–13Secondary452124432

Windsor and Maidenhead

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Dedworth Middle SchoolWindsor9–13Secondary505110072
St Edwards Royal Free Ecumenical Middle SchoolWindsor9–13Secondary480110086
St Peter's Middle School, Old WindsorOld Windsor9–13Secondary220110085
Trevelyan Middle SchoolWindsor9–13Secondary577110075

Worcestershire

Name Location Age
Range[18]		 Deemed
status[18]		 Number
on Roll[18]		 URN Website
Abbey Park MiddlePershore9–12Primary204116774
Alvechurch Church of England Middle SchoolAlvechurch9–13Secondary431143507
Aston Fields Middle SchoolBromsgrove9–13Secondary585116957
Birchensale Middle SchoolRedditch9–13Secondary553116967
Blackminster MiddleSouth Littleton10–13Secondary164116960
Bredon Hill AcademyAshton under Hill10–13Secondary486143395
Catshill Middle SchoolCatshill9–13Secondary307116958
Church Hill MiddleRedditch9–13Secondary312142543
Ipsley CE RSA AcademyWinyates9–13Secondary608139020
Parkside MiddleBromsgrove9–13Secondary558116959
Ridgeway Academy[22]Astwood Bank9–16Secondary408139029
St Barnabas CE First & MiddleDrakes Broughton4–12Primary293144334
St Bede's Catholic MiddleRedditch9–13Secondary644116998
St Egwin's MiddleEvesham10–13Secondary433116984
St John's CE MiddleBromsgrove9–13Secondary640139286
St Nicholas' CE MiddlePinvin9–12Primary299144257
The De Montfort SchoolEvesham10–18Secondary893116932
Walkwood CE MiddleRedditch9–13Secondary677139185
Westacre MiddleDroitwich Spa9–12Primary409116778
Witton MiddleDroitwich Spa9–12Primary422116779
Woodfield AcademyRedditch9–13Secondary516138208

Authorities where middle schools have been discontinued

Many authorities in regions of England previously had middle schools, with either local areas or whole counties since reverting to the more traditional two-tier model. These are listed briefly by region.

East of England

Norfolk closed its last middle schools - which were deemed primary - in 2008.[23] Suffolk began the process of closing its middle schools in 2006, having reduced its numbers from a high of 40 schools,[24] with the final two schools closing several years after the others in 2023.[25] The only middle school in Cambridgeshire (which fed into Bedfordshire upper schools) closed in 2018.


East Midlands

Northamptonshire closed its middle schools in and around Northampton in 2002,[26] with its final two middle schools closing in 2015. Leicestershire had a number of middle schools which covered the 10-14 age range, alongside others which were for Key Stage 3 students (11-14). The last of the middle schools closed in 2017. Nottinghamshire formerly had a three tier system around Newark-on-Trent and in Mansfield, with the latter closing in 2001.[27]

London

The London Borough of Harrow closed its middle deemed primary schools in 2011. The London Borough of Merton had about 14 middle schools for the 9-13 age range, which were converted to deemed-primary (8-12) schools in the 1990s. These schools reverted to primary use by 2002.[26]

North East England

The three authorities with existing middle schools (Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside) all closed several middle schools since 1999.[26] A number of towns such as Hexham and Berwick-upon-Tweed still have middle schools.

North West England

South East England

Buckinghamshire's last middle schools closed in the 1990s.[26] Hampshire inherited middle schools from Southampton City authority which had gone wholly three-tier in 1970 (one of the first two authorities to do so). The schools reverted to the traditional model in the 1990s.[28] Isle of Wight middle schools closed in 2011.[29] Kent's last three middle schools (on the Isle of Sheppey) closed in 2009.[30] The Hoo Peninsula middle schools were reorganised in 1994. Milton Keynes' system of middle schools was converted to primary schools in 2008. Oxfordshire closed its last middle-deemed-primary schools in Oxford in 2003.[26] West Sussex closed middle schools in Crawley in 2004, Adur in 2007, Midhurst & Petworth in 2009 and Worthing in 2015.[26] Its last middle school closed in 2017.

South West England

Devon closed its only middle schools, in Exeter, in 2005.[26] Dorset has closed a number of middle schools, including four which closed in 2013, as well as fourteen middle-deemed-primary schools which closed in the borough of Poole.[31] Wiltshire closed its last middle schools in 2005.[26]

West Midlands

Aldridge-Brownhills, Staffordshire (now West Midlands) - includes the towns of Aldridge and Brownhills as well as the villages of Pelsall and Streetly. Adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972 (normally on different sites to 5-9 first schools) and retained this system until 1986, when the traditional age ranges were re-established. The authority had been merged into Walsall (which always had the traditional age ranges) in 1974.

Bewdley and Kidderminster, Worcestershire - adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972, and the whole area retained this system after 1974 when the two boroughs merged to form Wyre Forest district council. The system was maintained until 2007, when the traditional age ranges were re-established throughout the area.[32]

Dudley, West Midlands (formerly Staffordshire) - incorporating towns of Dudley, Sedgley, Coseley and Brierley Hill. Adopted 8–12 middle schools in 1972 (some on the same site or within the same umbrella as 5-8 first schools) and retained this system until 1990, when the traditional age ranges were re-established. This coincided with a major reorganisation in the borough which saw sixth form facilities largely concentrated in further education colleges rather than secondary schools, as well as several secondary schools being closed or merged.[33]

Halesowen, West Midlands (formerly Worcestershire) - adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972 and retained this system after 1974 when the town was absorbed into the borough of Dudley (see above) along with Stourbridge (which, along with Kingswinford, always used the traditional age ranges). Was one of the first local authorities to abolish middle schools when in 1982 the traditional age ranges were re-established. This reorganisation also saw the town's three secondary schools serving the 13-18 age range become 11-16 schools, with sixth form facilities concentrated at the expanded college in the town, while the town gained a fourth secondary school with the conversion of a former middle school into an 11-16 school.[34]

Sutton Coldfield (which was in Warwickshire until 1974) adopted 5-8 first schools and 8–12 middle schools in 1972 and did so for 20 years before reverting to 5-7 infant and 7-11 junior schools in 1992.

Northern Warwickshire (the area covered by the boroughs of North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby – adopted 5–8 first schools and 8–12 middle schools in 1972 and retained this system until 1996, when it reverted to the traditional ages of transfer (which had always applied in the south of the county).

Yorkshire and the Humber

Bradford closed its middle schools between 1998 and 2002, having been the home of the first purpose-built middle school in the country.[26] Kirklees local authority closed three middle schools in 2012.[35] North Yorkshire's two middle schools (at Ingleton and Settle) closed in 2012.[36] Leeds and Wakefield previously operated on the three-tier system before reverting during the 1990s.

Notes

  1. ↑ Etonbury Academy is proposed to become secondary from 2023
  2. ↑ Pix Brook Academy is proposed to become secondary from 2023
  3. ↑ Robert Bloomfield Middle is proposed to become an all-through school from 2023
  4. ↑ Gosforth Junior High is federated with Gosforth High School

References

  1. ↑ "The Education (Middle Schools) Regulations 1980" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Middle Schools". Hansard, 4 June 1984, vol 61. UK Parliament. 4 June 1984. pp. cc64–5W. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  3. ↑ "Education Act 1964". HMSO. 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  4. ↑ Derek Gillard (2007). "Education in England - 1945-1978". Education in England: a brief history. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Middle schools decline due to haphazard development". Times Educational Supplement. 13 November 1981. p. 9.
  6. ↑ Jessel, Stephen (12 October 1970). "Guidance on setting up middle schools". The Times. p. 2.
  7. ↑ "School of the future". The Times. 12 December 1970. p. 13.
  8. ↑ Andrew, Herbert; Department of Education and Science (12 July 1965). "Main forms of comprehensive organisation". Circular 10/65: The Organisation of Secondary Education. HMSO. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  9. ↑ "Government Clarifies Plan for Education Switch" (PDF). The Times. 14 July 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  10. ↑ Central Advisory Council for Education (England) (1967). "10". In Bridget Plowden (ed.). Children and their primary School. Vol. 1. London: HMSO. pp. 344–407. ISBN 0-11-270129-9.
  11. 1 2 Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools; Number of Middle deemed Schools, London: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2005
  12. 1 2 Barker, Irena (2 February 2007). "Endangered species?". Times Educational Supplement. TSL Education Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  13. ↑ "The Decision Has Been Made..." Bedford Borough Council website. Bedford Borough Council. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  14. ↑ "Two-tier education plans scrapped". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  15. ↑ "The Future of Woodside Middle School". Bedford Borough Council website. Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  16. ↑ "Major schools shake-up confirmed - Education". Bedford Today. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "Two-tier change for borough's schools". Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 "Get Information about Schools". Department for Education. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "Latest News - Schools for the Future". Poole Borough Council. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  20. ↑ "Schools for the future". Central Bedfordshire Council. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  21. ↑ "Great Park Update: June 2017".
  22. ↑ Official name according to DfE website is Ridgeway Secondary School
  23. ↑ "Norfolk schools close in education shake-up". BBC News website. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  24. ↑ "SOR background and archive". SCC Website. Suffolk County Council. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  25. ↑ "Closure of Suffolk's last remaining middle schools approved by Department for Education". Suffolk News. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wainwright, Geoff. "Information on Authorities with Middle Schools in 2004". Survey of Middle Schools in English LEAs. Learning Community 7 (North Bedfordshire). Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  27. ↑ "Berry Hill Middle School".
  28. ↑ Wyatt, Nigel (2010). The Development of Middle Schools in England (PDF). National Middle Schools Forum.
  29. ↑ "Schools Reorganisation". IOW website. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  30. ↑ "Security costs Sheppey school £266,000 in three years". Kent Online. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  31. ↑ "Age of Transfer". Poole.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  32. ↑ Cousin, S (2008). "Work starts on school extension". Worcester News. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  33. ↑ "Work in progress list of school changes in Dudley". Dudley Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  34. ↑ Hunt, Julian (2004). A History of Halesowen. Phillimore & Co Ltd.
  35. ↑ "School changes due to the re‐organisation of Whitcliffe Mount Pyramid 2012/13" (PDF). Kirklees Council website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  36. ↑ Proctor, Kate. "Ingleton and Settle middle schools closure confirmed". The Westmorland Gazette website. Newsquest (North West). Retrieved 2 February 2013.
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