Marton Primary Academy and Nursery Review 2026: High-performing Blackpool primary with strong inclusion and a broad curriculum

A school can feel busy without feeling chaotic, and Marton Primary Academy and Nursery leans into that balance. The age range spans 2 to 11, so early years sits alongside a full primary offer, with a clear expectation that children learn routines early and build steadily.

Academically, outcomes are strong. In 2024, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. At greater depth, 31% reached the higher standard, compared with 8% across England. This places the school above England average, within the top 25% of primary schools in England (FindMySchool ranking).

The school’s latest Ofsted inspection in May 2023 confirmed it continues to be a Good school, and safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Marton’s written ethos is direct, it describes a warm, caring, fully inclusive environment, and frames success as both achievement and confidence. That matters because the school is serving a mixed community, with pupils experiencing a wide range of needs and starting points, and the culture needs to work for everyone.

In day to day life, routines look structured rather than rigid. Assemblies run twice a week for Reception to Year 6, and there is a deliberate focus on daily movement, with a Mile Walk built into the afternoon instead of a formal afternoon break. It is a small detail, but it hints at a school that tries to normalise activity and regulate energy levels, particularly important in a large primary where consistency makes a difference.

Inclusion is a defining feature. The 2023 inspection records a specially resourced provision for 32 primary-aged pupils, largely supporting autism spectrum disorder, with pupils attending through Education, Health and Care Plans. That sits alongside mainstream classes and a nursery that takes children from age two, which means the school has to be skilled at transitions, communication, and early intervention.

This is a school with results that stand up to close reading, not just a single headline. In 2024, 82% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 62% across England. At the higher standard, 31% reached greater depth, compared with an England average of 8%.

The underlying scaled scores are also strong: reading 107, maths 107, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 109. Those figures suggest secure basics, not just performance concentrated in one subject.

On the FindMySchool ranking for primary outcomes, Marton Primary Academy and Nursery is ranked 2nd in Blackpool and 2,388th in England, placing it comfortably above England average, within the top 25% of primary schools in England (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data).

Parents comparing local options should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these outcomes side by side, the context can be as important as the raw percentage when schools are close in headline results.

The curriculum organisation is unusually explicit. English and maths are taught daily, with extra maths sessions twice a week. PE happens twice weekly, while subjects such as PSHE, Religion and World Views, Music, computing, German and Forest School are weekly features rather than occasional add-ons. History and geography alternate weeks, as do art and design technology, and each class has a weekly library session built in.

For families, the implication is a timetable that protects breadth without letting core subjects drift. The extra maths sessions, in particular, can support confidence for pupils who benefit from more repetition and retrieval, while still leaving room for languages and enrichment.

The May 2023 inspection describes an ambitious, broad curriculum that supports pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, to achieve well across subjects, and notes that disruption in lessons is rare.

As a Blackpool primary, secondary transfer is the next major decision point for Year 6 families. The school’s admissions information signposts that secondary applications are handled through Blackpool’s coordinated process, rather than directly by the primary school.

The practical implication is that Year 5 and Year 6 families should treat secondary research as a parallel project, with open evenings, transport routes, and travel times considered alongside the primary experience. For context, Blackpool’s secondary sector includes schools such as Highfield Leadership Academy and Blackpool Aspire Academy, among others listed by the council.

If your child has additional needs, it is worth planning transition early. Marton’s scale, and its on-site resourced provision, typically means the staff are used to coordinating with external professionals and to preparing children for change in routine and setting, even when the next school is very different in size and structure.

Reception entry for September 2026 is handled via Blackpool Council rather than directly by the school. The published deadline on the school’s admissions page is 15 January 2026, for children born between 01 September 2021 and 31 August 2022.

Demand is clear from the most recent published application figures: 80 applications for 30 offers, or about 2.67 applications per place. First preference demand is also strong, with 1.44 first preferences per first-preference offer, which usually means a meaningful number of families put the school first and do not secure a place.

Nursery admissions are different. The school states that nursery places are handled directly by the school rather than through the council route, so families considering age two or three entry should expect a separate process from Reception.

Open events and tours are not always published as far ahead as parents would like. A sensible approach is to assume visits tend to cluster in the months leading up to the application window, then check the school’s calendar pages or contact the school for the current schedule.

Pastoral culture shows up most clearly in how predictable a school day feels to children. Marton publishes a detailed structure: compulsory hours run 8.30am to 3.15pm for Reception to Year 6, and the school also sets expectations around collection times and supervision at the end of the day.

Safeguarding is treated as a core strength. The 2023 inspection records that safeguarding arrangements are effective, and describes staff as skilled at identifying concerns and acting promptly with external support where needed.

The inclusion picture matters here too. A school that runs a specialist base alongside mainstream classes is usually dealing with a wide range of needs, from communication support to sensory regulation, and families who value a calm, well-structured environment will tend to appreciate that expertise.

The clearest signal that enrichment is real is when it is specific. The May 2023 inspection points to a wide range of after-school clubs, with examples including boccia, curling, cookery, origami and a Spanish club. It also references visits to theatres and museums, plus opportunities for residential experiences and learning sign language.

Forest School is another distinctive strand. The school explains that sessions are pupil-led and take place in local woodland, with activities such as hunting for mini beasts, building shelters, creating sculptures and collages with natural materials, and caring for the environment. For many children, that kind of outdoor learning can be the hook that makes school feel meaningful, especially for pupils who learn best through doing rather than extended desk-based tasks.

There is also evidence of practical investment in the physical environment, including the school’s communication about moving to solar energy, which suggests a willingness to modernise infrastructure and talk to families about sustainability.

The core school day for Reception to Year 6 runs 8.30am to 3.15pm, and the school publishes that this totals 33.75 hours per week.

Wraparound is available. Breakfast provision runs 8.00am to 8.45am, and the school describes a structured start that includes breakfast items and activities before children join their classrooms. The nursery fee page also indicates wraparound care is available from 8.00am to 5.30pm via the Out of School Group, families should confirm current arrangements directly if they rely on late pick-up.

Travel and parking are a real constraint. The school notes limited parking, staff and disabled spaces only, plus guidance to avoid stopping near the gates, and references using the nearby Highfield Road Co-op car park with permission.

• Oversubscription pressure. Recent demand data shows 80 applications for 30 offers. Families should treat admission as competitive and keep a realistic Plan B.

• Nursery is a separate route. Nursery places are handled directly by the school, while Reception is via Blackpool Council. This can catch families out if they assume a single application process.

• Inclusion is a real strength, and it shapes the experience. The school runs a 32-place resourced provision alongside mainstream classes. For many families that is a positive, but it does mean the school is set up to manage a wide range of needs and behaviours, which can feel different from smaller, more uniform intakes.

• Parking and drop-off logistics. If you drive daily, the published parking constraints matter. It is worth trialling the route at peak times before committing.

Marton Primary Academy and Nursery combines strong primary outcomes with a clear commitment to inclusion and breadth. The curriculum structure is thoughtfully planned, enrichment is specific rather than generic, and the school day is carefully organised.

Who it suits: families who want a high-performing Blackpool primary with established routines, outdoor learning through Forest School, and credible expertise in supporting a wide range of needs. The main limitation is admission, demand exceeds places, so families should plan early and keep alternatives in view.