From Middle School to Primary

Ponteland Community Primary School started life as Ponteland County Middle School over forty years ago.

It was one of two new schools built on the site in 1971. They were required to cope with Ponteland’s rapidly growing population, the raising of the school leaving age to 16 and the introduction of the three-tier, comprehensive based education system in Northumberland.

Prior to the 1970’s, children sat an examination at the age of 11 called the 11 Plus which determined whether they would go on to attend a Secondary Modern School if the failed the exam, or if they were lucky enough to pass, then a Grammar School. Up to the age of 11, they attended Primary Schools (which often had an Infants section). In 1971, this changed. Three new types of schools were introduced; First Schools for those aged 5-9, Middle Schools for those aged 9-13 and High Schools for those aged 13-18.

The Middle School was the first to open here with the High School opening a little later and the school had a capacity of around 500 pupils. The school was well regarded locally. It was one of the highest performing middle schools. There was strong community support for keeping it open under the middle‐school system when changes were proposed.

Eventually change did come with the re-introduction of a two-tier education system and the removal of Middle Schools. As part of this reorganisation the school converted into an Academy School taking it out of Local Authority control. It remained on the same site but in 2017 it reopened as Ponteland Community Primary School now admitting pupils aged 2-11 years old.