Caroline Chisholm School, Northampton
Caroline Chisholm School is an all-through school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in Northampton, part of Caroline Chisholm Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 5th-highest of the 15 schools in Northampton with published results, and 732nd of 3,298 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to West Northamptonshire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to West Northamptonshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Caroline Chisholm School in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at Caroline Chisholm School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 52, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.3 in West Northamptonshire and 47 across England.
54% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in West Northamptonshire and 47% in England.
That is up from 50.4 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.09: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.3, against 54.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 18.6 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Spanish.
Getting a place at Caroline Chisholm School
For September 2026 entry, 156 families put Caroline Chisholm School as their first choice and 537 named it as one of their preferences, for 210 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Caroline Chisholm School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Caroline Chisholm School are Wootton Park School (1.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.7); Abbeyfield School (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.6); Northampton School for Boys (2.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 59); and Roade Village Academy (3.2 miles).
Caroline Chisholm School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Wootton Park SchoolAbbeyfield SchoolNorthampton School for BoysRoade Village Academy
The trust
Caroline Chisholm School is run by its own single-school academy trust.
What parents say
322 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Caroline Chisholm School (as of September 2025): 78% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 277 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 0% into work.
Of the 175 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 57% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 22% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
12.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 225 pupils (11%) received SEN support and 58 (2.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Caroline Chisholm School has a SEN unit for autism: 10 places, 3 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Northampton Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Caroline Chisholm School issued 406 suspensions, 19 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Caroline Chisholm School are Preston Hedges Primary School (0.4 miles), Wootton Primary School (0.5 miles), Woodland View Primary School (0.8 miles) and Hardingstone Academy (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Preston Hedges Primary SchoolWootton Primary SchoolWoodland View Primary SchoolHardingstone Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from January 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Caroline Chisholm School creates a calm, welcoming environment where pupils thrive academically and personally. The school prioritises reading and provides excellent support for children with additional needs through specialist staff and bespoke programmes. With a strong focus on developing character and preparing students for life after school, including detailed careers guidance for sixth formers, your child will be well-supported to succeed.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with well-trained phonics staff and targeted support for struggling readers
- Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum that clearly outlines knowledge and skills from early years through sixth form
- Effective identification and support for pupils with SEND, plus specialist provision for pupils with autism
- High expectations for behaviour with clear routines that most pupils follow well
- Comprehensive programme for pupils' broader development, including British values, healthy lifestyles, and career guidance
Areas for Improvement
- Some inconsistencies in teaching quality - learning activities don't always help pupils build knowledge effectively
- Information provided to teachers about supporting pupils with SEND in lessons is sometimes unclear, resulting in insufficient adaptation
- Gaps in some pupils' knowledge are not identified and resolved well enough in certain subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils feeling safe and having access to supportive staff.
Extracurricular Activities
Ballroom dancing, choir, engineering club, archery, Combined Cadet Force, art club, sports clubs, mentoring programmes, culture days
Caroline Chisholm School has maintained good standards following its previous inspection. The school has high ambitions for all pupils, who achieve well and feel valued in a calm, orderly environment.
About
Caroline Chisholm School is a mixed all-through school with academy status, in Wootton, south Northampton, England. It is named after Caroline Chisholm, a 19th-century social reformer.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
12.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
322 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around 0.09 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 51.9 to 52.0 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 54% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 52.0 | 53.8% |
| Disadvantaged(43) | - | 36.3 | 18.6% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(234) | - | 54.9 | 60.3% |
| Boys(130) | - | 50.1 | 51.5% |
| Girls(147) | - | 53.6 | 55.8% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(36) | - | 57.5 | 61.1% |
| Non mobile(265) | - | 52.9 | 55.8% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 6 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 277 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
2
Permanent exclusions
0.09%
Exclusion rate
406
Suspensions
19.03%
Suspension rate
107 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 2,134 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Latest from Caroline Chisholm School
National Champions!
16 Sep 2026
Outstanding GCSE Results
20 Aug 2026
Post-16 Success for Caroline Chisholm School Students
13 Aug 2026
CCS Pulse - Summer Edition 2026
17 Jul 2026
Cadets Summer Camp 2026
6 Jul 2026
Diya Donates with Kindness
11 Jun 2026
From Caroline Chisholm School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Caroline Chisholm School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Caroline Chisholm School.
- Kip McGrath Education Centre Northampton South520m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Caroline Chisholm School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see West Northamptonshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Caroline Chisholm School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Caroline Chisholm School is in West Northamptonshire; for families living there:
- West Northamptonshire's school travel policy: Free school travel assistance (4-to-16 year olds)
- How to apply: Apply for free school travel assistance (4-to-16 year olds)
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in West Northamptonshire is 7 (the median across 208 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Caroline Chisholm School
Will you get a place at Caroline Chisholm School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Caroline Chisholm School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Caroline Chisholm School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Caroline Chisholm School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from West Northamptonshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Caroline Chisholm School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in West Northamptonshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
2,134 pupils
2,197 places
63 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Northampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Northampton
Across West Northamptonshire council
Places available
5,019
Applications
4,602
Got 1st preference
75.8%
Got preferred school
95.7%
All secondary applications across West Northamptonshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
225
SEN Support
58
EHC Plans
13.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Caroline Chisholm School has a SEN unit for autism: 10 places, 3 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
2,049
Total Pupils
961
Boys
1,088
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
120
Teachers
17.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,770
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,801
Per pupil
£12790k
Total funding
£242k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.3%
Overall absence
17.2%
Persistent absence
1,797
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Caroline Chisholm School
What are GCSE results like at Caroline Chisholm School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Caroline Chisholm School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 52. 54% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Caroline Chisholm School's Ofsted rating?
Caroline Chisholm School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Caroline Chisholm School?
No fixed boundary. When Caroline Chisholm School is oversubscribed, West Northamptonshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Caroline Chisholm School?
Caroline Chisholm School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Caroline Chisholm School?
Classes at Caroline Chisholm School average 25 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Caroline Chisholm School?
Caroline Chisholm School has around 2049 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Caroline Chisholm School have specialist SEN provision?
Caroline Chisholm School has a SEN unit for autism: 10 places, 3 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Caroline Chisholm School?
7.3% of sessions were missed at Caroline Chisholm School in 2024/25. 17.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Caroline Chisholm School?
Apply through West Northamptonshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Caroline Chisholm School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Caroline Chisholm School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Caroline Chisholm School: Kip McGrath Education Centre Northampton South (520m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Caroline Chisholm School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in West Northamptonshire is 7 (the median across 208 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Caroline Chisholm School?
Caroline Chisholm School is at Wooldale Centre for Learning, Wootton Fields, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN4 6TP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)