Guilsborough Academy, Northampton

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Guilsborough we believe that learning should be enjoyable and challenging. This belief, combined with the excellent teaching skills and commitment of our staff and the enthusiasm and hard work of our students, lies at the heart of our success."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, chess, coding and art.

Coming up: an open evening on Friday 6 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Guilsborough Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.3 in West Northamptonshire and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in West Northamptonshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 46.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.17: pupils made below 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 36.4, against 48.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 159 families put Guilsborough Academy as their first choice and 347 named it as one of their preferences, for 211 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Guilsborough Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.

179 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Guilsborough Academy (as of September 2025): 69% would recommend the school, 74% say their child is happy there and 55% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (80%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (55%).

Of the 222 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 42% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 98 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 53% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 33% into work. 27% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

14.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 128 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 25 (2.1%) 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.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Guilsborough Academy.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Guilsborough County School (adjacent), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Northamptonshire (90).

In 2024/25, Guilsborough Academy issued 193 suspensions, 15.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.