Malbank School and Sixth Form College

Occupying a site on the historic Welsh Row, Malbank School traces its lineage back to the Nantwich Grammar School founded in 1560. While the red-brick facade speaks to this four-century heritage, the school is currently navigating a period of significant change, having converted to academy status and joined The Cornovii Trust in January 2026. It serves as a central hub for Nantwich and the surrounding Cheshire villages, blending a long tradition with a modern, comprehensive ethos.

The campus is a physical timeline of the school's evolution. The "Boulevard," a central pedestrian spine, connects the older, characterful buildings with modern additions, including the newer science block.

Mr John Harrison, Headteacher since 2021, leads with a focus on inclusivity. The school motto, "Be the best that you can be," underpins a culture that values personal development alongside academic achievement. The atmosphere is generally calm; the 2022 Ofsted inspection noted that pupils behave well, feel safe, and appreciate the "welcoming ethos."

Pastoral care is organised through a traditional House system—Brereton, Dorfold, Kent, and Wilbraham—which breaks the large student body into smaller, supportive communities. This structure encourages a sense of belonging often cited by parents as a key strength.

Academic performance data presents a mixed picture. In the 2025 GCSE results, the school's GCSE academic performance ranked 3,572nd out of 3,895 schools in England. The Attainment 8 score is 42.9, and the Progress 8 score of -0.6 indicates that, on average, students achieve over half a grade lower than peers with similar starting points nationally.

At A-level, the school ranks 1,794th out of 2,549 schools in England. In the 2025 A-level results, 40% of grades were A*-B and 10% were A*-A. While these headline metrics remain mixed, they mask individual successes. The Sixth Form consistently supports students onto competitive pathways, with one student securing a place at Cambridge in the most recent cycle.

The curriculum is broad, resisting the narrowing seen in some schools. There is a strong commitment to the arts and technology, ensuring that creative subjects remain viable options alongside the English Baccalaureate core.

In the Sixth Form, class sizes are typically smaller than in large FE colleges, allowing for more personalised support. This close attention is a significant factor in the Sixth Form's retention of students from Year 11, who value the continuity of staff relationships.

Destinations reflect the comprehensive intake. In 2024, 63% of leavers progressed to university, while 24% moved directly into employment and 6% started apprenticeships.

The school has a track record of supporting diverse ambitions. Alumni include actor and comedian Ben Miller, as well as Bryony Page, the trampolinist who completed her set of Olympic medals with gold in Paris 2024. This breadth of outcome underscores the school's ability to nurture talent beyond the purely academic.

Admission to Year 7 is coordinated by Cheshire East Council. The school is popular and consistently oversubscribed; in 2024, there were 460 applications for 212 places.

Places are allocated based on criteria including looked-after children, siblings, and children of staff, followed by distance. The furthest distance at which a place was offered varies annually based on the applicant pool. Parents should note that living in Nantwich does not automatically guarantee a place if the cohort is particularly large.

The House system is the engine of pastoral care. Heads of House and form tutors provide the first line of support, and the school has invested in mental health provision to support students facing emotional difficulties. The "warm relationships" between staff and students were explicitly highlighted by inspectors as a foundation of the school's safe environment.

Extracurricular life is vibrant. The music department is particularly active, with choirs and bands performing regularly in the town. Drama productions are a staple of the school calendar, utilising the specialist performance spaces.

Sport is another pillar, with competitive teams in football, rugby, and netball. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is well-established, offering students the chance to build resilience and leadership skills outside the classroom.

The school day runs from 8:45am to 3:10pm. Located on Welsh Row, the site is easily accessible from Nantwich town centre and the bus station, serving a wide rural catchment.

Recent Academy Conversion. The school converted to academy status on 1 January 2026, joining The Cornovii Trust. This is a fresh chapter, and while day-to-day life remains stable, the long-term impact of this new governance structure is yet to be established.

Progress Scores. The Progress 8 score of -0.6 is a point for consideration. It suggests that students here, on average, make less progress from primary school than they might elsewhere. Families of high-ability children should discuss how the school ensures they are stretched.

Facilities Mix. The estate is a patchwork of the very old and the very new. While the science block is modern, some older areas of the site require ongoing maintenance, a common reality in historic schools.

Malbank offers a genuine community feel with deep roots in Nantwich's history. It is a supportive, inclusive school where pastoral care is a priority and individual talents in sport and the arts are nurtured. Best suited to families who value a well-rounded education and local connection, though those focused purely on academic value-added metrics may want to ask detailed questions about the recent progress data.