Academy sponsor led · North Northamptonshire

Rushden Academy

11–18Ages
961Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
146209URN

Hayway, Rushden, NN10 6AG · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

0.3 below North Northamptonshire median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in North Northamptonshire

315 applications for 175 places · 15th of 21 in North Northamptonshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.1of 90

North Northamptonshire 45.0 England 46.0

13th of 19 in North Northamptonshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 13 September 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		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 entry

1.8applications per place, Year 7

0.3 below North Northamptonshire median (2.1) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

315 applications · 175 places offered · 173 named it first

2026 1.8; North Northamptonshire median median 2.1
2025 1.8; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
2024 1.7; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
2023 1.5; 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 1.4; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
2019 1.3; North Northamptonshire median median 1.8
2018 0.9; North Northamptonshire median median 2.0; as the previous school
2017 1.6; North Northamptonshire median median 2.0; as the previous school
2016 2.0; North Northamptonshire median median 2.3; as the previous school
2015 1.5; North Northamptonshire median median 2.4; as the previous school
2014 1.5; North Northamptonshire median median 2.1; as the previous school

More applications per place than the North Northamptonshire median in 0 of 8 years.

This school
North Northamptonshire median

Dashed bars: as Rushden Community College (URN 139013), The Rushden Community College Specialising in Mathematics and Computing (URN 122092), the previous school.

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	175	315	1.8	173	0.99
Sep 2025	173	302	1.8	190	1.10
Sep 2024	179	305	1.7	161	0.90
Sep 2023	149	228	1.5	108	0.72
Sep 2022	150	223	1.5	128	0.85
Sep 2021	130	200	1.5	115	0.88
Sep 2020	144	199	1.4	109	0.76
Sep 2019	135	180	1.3	116	0.86
Sep 2018 *	133	122	0.9	68	0.51
Sep 2017 *	97	156	1.6	82	0.85
Sep 2016 *	100	197	2.0	97	0.97
Sep 2015 *	126	193	1.5	107	0.85
Sep 2014 *	119	183	1.5	114	0.96

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

142 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.113th of 19 in North Northamptonshire

North Northamptonshire 45.0 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%14th of 19 in North Northamptonshire

North Northamptonshire 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths56%

North Northamptonshire 62% England 66%

This school
North Northamptonshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.39

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	142	42.1	32%	56%	–
2024/25	151	41.6	27%	57%	–
2023/24	155	39.8	28%	49%	−0.39
2022/23	133	43.9	32%	60%	−0.01

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

Rushden AcademyThis school
This school

Good2022

1.8applications per place 42.1Attainment 8
The Ferrers School
1.3 km · North Northamptonshire

2026

2.3applications per place 40.2Attainment 8
Huxlow Academy
3.6 km · North Northamptonshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 39.8Attainment 8
Wrenn School
5.7 km · North Northamptonshire

Remains Good2023

2.1applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
Wollaston School
6.0 km · North Northamptonshire

Good2023

1.8applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
Sir Christopher Hatton Academy
6.2 km · North Northamptonshire

Good2022

2.3applications per place 48.8Attainment 8
Manor School
7.1 km · North Northamptonshire

Serious weaknesses Inadequate2024

1.4applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
Weavers Academy
7.4 km · North Northamptonshire

Remains Good2022

2.2applications per place 43.4Attainment 8
Sharnbrook Academy
8.9 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 47.7Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 146209 · 940/4027
Trust: Tove Learning Trust
Capacity: 1,295 pupils · 961 on roll
Free school meals: 24.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 May 2018
Replaced: Rushden Community College (URN 139013); The Rushden Community College Specialising in Mathematics and Computing (URN 122092)
Address: Hayway, Rushden, NN10 6AG
Local authority: North Northamptonshire

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources