Abbeyfield School, Northampton

Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Richard Shaw
Pupils:1,296 / 1,350 capacity
LA:West Northamptonshire
Phone:01604763616
Address:Mereway, Northampton, NN4 8BU
Trust:CREATIVE EDUCATION TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 October 2012

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Sixth Form
Expected Standard
Inspected 20 January 2026View full report
URN:138858
UKPRN:10038483
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Northampton South
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The school has supportive pastoral systems and a well-developed careers programme that prepares pupils for their next steps. Leaders are taking thoughtful action to improve the school and listen to staff wellbeing concerns. The school provides structured support for vulnerable pupils and those with complex needs through targeted interventions and work with external agencies.

Key Strengths

  • Leaders have strengthened the curriculum and created a clear direction for improvement with positive staff morale
  • Safeguarding culture is open and positive, with all legal requirements met
  • Targeted interventions in English, mathematics and nurture provision are helping pupils develop skills
  • Careers programme is well-developed and provides strong transition support
  • Trust provides effective support and challenge to keep improvement work focused

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupil achievement is inconsistent across subjects, with large gaps for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND in English, mathematics, science and languages
  • Teaching quality varies - some teachers do not check understanding or address misconceptions consistently
  • Attendance remains variable, particularly among vulnerable pupils and those with SEND
  • Personal development provision has inconsistent impact on pupils' wellbeing and cultural understanding
  • Extra-curricular activities are not accessed equally by all pupils

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Drama, sport

Abbeyfield School is working to improve under new leadership, with positive momentum in curriculum development and support systems. However, pupil achievement remains inconsistent, with significant gaps for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.

At a Glance

28.1%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

23.7

Avg class size

50

Total classes

9 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Mereway Community College (o/s)
155m · 3 min walk
Fire Station (opp)
307m · 5 min walk
Telephone Exchange (opp)
370m · 6 min walk
Redruth Close (adj)
403m · 7 min walk
Gloucester Avenue (o/s 13)
451m · 7 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

96%

Near capacity

1,296 pupils

1,350 capacity

54 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Northampton

Medium pressure
New homes approved:5,421
Projected new pupils:976

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Northampton

Admissions Demand - West Northamptonshire

Low demand0.93x oversubscription

Places available

5,079

Applications

4,699

Got 1st preference

77.2%

Got preferred school

95.4%

Secondary admissions across West Northamptonshire (2025/26)

Inspection History(4)

20 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Sixth Form
14 September 2021
11 May 2016
Leadership & ManagementGood

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

8.87697%

Overall absence

22.1191%

Persistent absence

1,293

Enrolments

Authorised4.46673%
Unauthorised4.41024%
Persistent (10%+)22.1191%
Severe (50%+)4.64037%

Absence trend

5.81501%
18/19
4.94236%
20/21
9.28358%
21/22
11.1196%
22/23
8.76434%
23/24
8.87697%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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