Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School, Rushden
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in Rushden, part of Learning for Life Education Trust. It was 80% full in 2025.
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North Northamptonshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School in detail
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School in its own words
In its own words: "We strive to create a nurturing, inclusive, safe and stimulating environment where every child feels valued, inspired and supported in their journey of discovery and growth. We lay strong foundations for lifelong learning, fostering a love of knowledge and curiosity that will empower our children to thrive in an ever-changing world."
From the headteacher's welcome: "As headteacher, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our school community, where each child is valued, nurtured, and encouraged to grow in a safe and inclusive environment."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics and dance.
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
For September 2026 entry, 70 families put Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School as their first choice and 121 named it as one of their preferences, for 71 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School are Higham Ferrers Junior School (under 0.1 miles); Henry Chichele Primary School (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 85% reading, 77% maths); Denfield Park Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 72% reading, 63% maths); and Alfred Lord Tennyson School (1.1 miles, Requires improvement, 65% reading, 70% maths).
Higham Ferrers Junior SchoolHenry Chichele Primary SchoolDenfield Park Primary SchoolAlfred Lord Tennyson School
The trust
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School is one of 6 schools run by Learning for Life Education Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
14.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 21 pupils (8.2%) received SEN support and 6 (2.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School.
30 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Infants School (outside), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School issued 12 suspensions, 5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School are The Ferrers School (0.4 miles) and Rushden Academy (0.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in November 2024. Before that, as Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School (URN 121899), it was rated Good in September 2010.
At a Glance
14.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
27.2
Avg class size
27.4
Infant (KS1)
9
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
From Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School.
- MACCA Sports Academies at The Ferrers School680m away · Not yet graded
- Freestyle Wraparound � Henry Chichele Primary School720m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see North Northamptonshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School 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
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 18 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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
Your chances of a place at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
Will you get a place at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School.
- North Northamptonshire publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School for 2025 and 2026 entry.
- How many families in North 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
80%
Available places
215 pupils
270 places
55 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rushden
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rushden
Across North Northamptonshire council
Places available
4,565
Applications
3,751
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across North Northamptonshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
10.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
255
Total Pupils
111
Boys
144
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
19.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,798
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,236
Per pupil
£1287k
Total funding
£58k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
11.0%
Persistent absence
146
Enrolments
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
Questions parents ask about Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
What is Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in November 2024. Before that, as Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School (URN 121899), it was rated Good in September 2010.
What is the catchment area for Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
No fixed boundary. When Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School is oversubscribed, North Northamptonshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 270 places.
How big are the classes at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
Classes at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School average 27.2 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School has around 255 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School in 2024/25. 11% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
Apply through North Northamptonshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School: MACCA Sports Academies at The Ferrers School (680m away, registered, not yet graded) and Freestyle Wraparound � Henry Chichele Primary School (720m 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 Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 18 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School?
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School is at Wharf Road, Higham Ferrers, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 8BQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)