Harington School, Oakham
Harington School is a post-16 school for pupils aged 16 to 19 in Oakham, part of Rutland and District Schools' Federation. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Harington School in detail
Harington School in its own words
In its own words: "Harington school is a first rate learning environment. We are privileged to be large enough to offer a wide range of curriculum and enrichment activities but small enough to maintain a family ethos where all students are known personally."
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Rutland
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
The trust
Harington School is one of 3 schools run by Rutland and District Schools' Federation, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 170 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 62% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 31% into work. 39% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
7.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 12 pupils (3.4%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Oakham Rail Station, about 550 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Catmose College (outside), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 62 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Rutland (8), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Harington School issued 1 suspension, 0.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 January 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Harington School excels at combining rigorous academic teaching with enriching experiences that help students thrive. Expert teachers challenge students to reach their highest potential, and the school provides a well-rounded education including museum visits, specialist talks, and real-world problem-solving opportunities. Almost all students progress successfully to higher education, apprenticeships or employment, with excellent support throughout their journey.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional teaching from expert, passionate subject specialists who create challenging and interesting lessons
- Highly aspirational leadership with clear vision for inclusive, high-quality education and rigorous quality assurance
- Extensive enrichment opportunities including Young Enterprise, DocSoc, Greenpower and Cybersecurity that enhance students' knowledge and confidence
- Excellent careers programme with work experience, guest speakers and mock interviews to prepare students for next steps
- Strong assessment and tracking systems using retrieval quizzes, homework and mock exams to identify and address gaps in understanding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Young Enterprise, DocSoc, GreenPower, Cybersecurity, work experience, guest speakers, mock interviews, museum visits (Imperial War Museum), trips to Belgium, Holocaust specialist talks
Harington School is a 16-19 academy in Oakham, Rutland, with 328 students studying A-level subjects across 18 different options. The school continues to be rated as outstanding, with leaders setting exceptionally high standards and students demonstrating excellent behaviour, attendance and motivation.
About
Harington School is a free school sixth form located in Oakham, Rutland. The school is named after John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton and John Harington, 2nd Baron Harington of Exton, two notable peers in Rutland in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
7.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
B-
Average grade
38.2
Points per entry
B-
Best 3 A-Levels
26%
Achieving AAB+
Average
Value added
156
A-Level students
98%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 170 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
39%
Top-third university
77%
Degree course
80%
Any L4+ destination
3%
Apprenticeships
Based on 167 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Latest from Harington School
Harington Link Issue 6
24 Sep 2026
A level Results Day 2026
13 Aug 2026
Greenpower Blyton Park Race
21 Jul 2026
Year 12 Botanical Gardens Visit
9 Jun 2026
DofE Gold Practice Expedition 2026
19 May 2026
HARINGTON LINK Issue 5
1 May 2026
From Harington School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Harington School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- 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, 0 serious and 4 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle.
1 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 Rutland is 1 (the median across 27 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
119%
Over capacity
358 pupils
300 places
58 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Oakham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Oakham
Across Rutland council
Places available
600
Applications
331
Got 1st preference
93.1%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Rutland council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
12
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
3.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
358
Total Pupils
174
Boys
184
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
55
Teachers
6.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,435
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Harington School
What is Harington School's Ofsted rating?
Harington School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Harington School?
No fixed boundary. When Harington School is oversubscribed, Rutland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How big are the classes at Harington School?
Classes at Harington School average 19.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Harington School?
Harington School has around 358 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Harington School?
Apply through Rutland's coordinated admissions process, naming Harington School 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 Harington 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, 0 serious and 4 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle. 1 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 Rutland is 1 (the median across 27 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Harington School?
Harington School is at Huntsmans Drive, Catmose Campus, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6RP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)