Report card · inspected Mar 2026
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Safeguarding standards met
This schoolOther secondary schools in North Northamptonshire
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Exceptional | Strong standard | Expected standard | Needs attention | Urgent improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Expected standard | ||||
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention | ||||
| Achievement | Needs attention | ||||
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard | ||||
| Personal development and wellbeing | Needs attention | ||||
| Early years | Does not apply to this school | ||||
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard | ||||
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard | ||||
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
Inspection history
- 3 March 2026Report card · 4 Expected standard, 3 Needs attention
- 7 July 2021Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry338 applications · 149 places offered · 143 named it first
- 2026 2.3; North Northamptonshire median median 2.1
- 2025 1.7; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
- 2024 1.7; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
- 2023 2.0; North Northamptonshire median median 2.0
- 2022 1.5; North Northamptonshire median median 1.7
- 2021 1.5; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
- 2020 1.5; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
- 2019 1.6; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
- 2018 1.9; North Northamptonshire median median 2.0
- 2017 1.6; North Northamptonshire median median 2.0
- 2016 1.6; North Northamptonshire median median 2.3
- 2015 1.9; North Northamptonshire median median 2.4
- 2014 1.7; North Northamptonshire median median 2.1
- This school
- North Northamptonshire median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 149 | 338 | 2.3 | 143 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2025 | 172 | 289 | 1.7 | 157 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2024 | 175 | 297 | 1.7 | 190 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2023 | 173 | 337 | 2.0 | 206 | 1.19 |
| Sep 2022 | 162 | 248 | 1.5 | 149 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2021 | 165 | 245 | 1.5 | 154 | 0.93 |
| Sep 2020 | 144 | 222 | 1.5 | 122 | 0.85 |
| Sep 2019 | 152 | 239 | 1.6 | 137 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2018 | 175 | 328 | 1.9 | 208 | 1.19 |
| Sep 2017 | 204 | 325 | 1.6 | 205 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2016 | 204 | 319 | 1.6 | 205 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2015 | 165 | 313 | 1.9 | 156 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2014 | 167 | 281 | 1.7 | 165 | 0.99 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 171 | 40.2 | 25% | 57% | – |
| 2024/25 | 147 | 38.9 | 27% | 48% | – |
| 2023/24 | 147 | 39.4 | 33% | 50% | −0.28 |
| 2022/23 | 173 | 44.3 | 35% | 65% | −0.23 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- The Ferrers SchoolThis schoolThis school20262.3applications per place 40.2Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · North NorthamptonshireGood20221.8applications per place 42.1Attainment 8
- 3.7 km · North NorthamptonshireGraded · no overall grade20251.5applications per place 39.8Attainment 8
- 5.8 km · North NorthamptonshireSerious weaknesses Inadequate20241.4applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
- 7.0 km · North NorthamptonshireRemains Good20232.1applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
- 7.3 km · North NorthamptonshireGood20231.8applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
- 7.3 km · North NorthamptonshireGood20222.3applications per place 48.8Attainment 8
- 8.6 km · North NorthamptonshireRemains Good20222.2applications per place 43.4Attainment 8
- 9.2 km · BedfordGraded · no overall grade20251.7applications per place 47.7Attainment 8
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 139988 · 940/4094
- Trust
- Meridian Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,100 pupils · 937 on roll
- Free school meals
- 19.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 August 2013
- Replaced
- The Ferrers Specialist Arts College (URN 122090)
- Address
- Queensway, Higham Ferrers, Rushden, NN10 8LF
- Local authority
- North Northamptonshire
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources