Friars Academy, Wellingborough
Friars Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Wellingborough, part of Better Together Learning Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Friars Academy in detail
Friars Academy in its own words
In its own words: "We have a vision to become an acknowledged leader in the provision of inclusive education. The Trust currently consists of Friars Academy and Chelveston Road School, which opened in September 2021. The Directors, governors and staff who work within Better Together Learning Trust are very passionate about the education and life chances that we provide for our young people."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include cooking and gardening.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Friars Academy are Rowan Gate Primary School - Four Sites (0.9 miles, Outstanding); and Creating Tomorrow College (4.7 miles, Outstanding).
Rowan Gate Primary School - Four SitesCreating Tomorrow College
The trust
Friars Academy is one of 2 schools run by Better Together Learning Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Friars Academy (as of September 2025): 94% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (81%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 30 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 47% to a further education college.
Who goes there
47.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Friars Academy has an education, health and care plan (149 of 149 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Friars Academy provides for pupils with autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wellingborough Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Monks Way (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 371 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Northamptonshire (141), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Friars Academy issued 13 suspensions, 9.1 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Friars Academy excels at creating a supportive environment where every child feels valued and confident. Teachers are skilled at helping pupils build strong foundations in reading and maths while developing their communication skills. The school goes beyond academics by offering rich experiences like residential visits, college placements and diverse clubs, ensuring all pupils are exceptionally well prepared for adult life and employment.
Key Strengths
- Pupils have exceptionally positive attitudes to learning and feel happy, safe and supported in a caring environment
- Strong focus on reading, writing and mathematics with effective teaching and regular helpful feedback to ensure pupils build knowledge successfully
- Extensive personal development opportunities including residential visits, college experiences, and a wide range of clubs
- Pupils demonstrate exceptional behaviour both in class and around the school, with many showing demonstrable improvements in behaviour and attendance
- Highly ambitious and carefully sequenced curriculum that prepares all pupils for purposeful destinations after leaving school
Areas for Improvement
- The school continues to develop its careers provision, with plans to expand opportunities for pupils to experience the world of work and participate in college activities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, music, gaming, fitness, yoga, art, residential visits, college experiences, trips to the shops
Friars Academy is a special school that has maintained its outstanding standards since the previous inspection in 2015. The school provides a caring, respectful and aspirational environment where pupils with a range of special educational needs thrive academically and personally.
At a Glance
47.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Friars Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Friars Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Friars Academy is in North Northamptonshire; for families living there:
- North Northamptonshire's school travel policy: Home to school transport policies and codes of conduct
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 27
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 20 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
6 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 North Northamptonshire is 9 (the median across 154 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
149 pupils
154 places
5 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Wellingborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wellingborough
Across North Northamptonshire council
Places available
4,402
Applications
4,186
Got 1st preference
85.2%
Got preferred school
96.4%
All secondary applications across North Northamptonshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
149
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Friars Academy provides for pupils with autism.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
149
Total Pupils
100
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
27
Teachers
5.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,076
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
26.1%
Persistent absence
142
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
Friars Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Friars Academy
What is Friars Academy's Ofsted rating?
Friars Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Friars Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Friars Academy is oversubscribed, North Northamptonshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Friars Academy?
Friars Academy has around 149 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Friars Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Friars Academy provides for pupils with autism.
What is attendance like at Friars Academy?
8.6% of sessions were missed at Friars Academy in 2024/25. 26.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Friars Academy?
Apply through North Northamptonshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Friars Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Friars Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 20 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 6 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 North Northamptonshire is 9 (the median across 154 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Friars Academy?
Friars Academy is at Friars Close, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 2LA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)