Irchester Community Primary School, Wellingborough
Irchester Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Wellingborough, part of The Nene Valley Partnership. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 21 schools in Wellingborough with published results, and 5,291st of 14,452 across England. It was 85% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North Northamptonshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Irchester Community Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Irchester Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 73% in North Northamptonshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 67% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Irchester Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 60 families put Irchester Community Primary School as their first choice and 80 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Irchester Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Irchester Community Primary School are Whitefriars Primary School (1.6 miles); Stanton Cross Primary School (1.9 miles); South End Junior School (2 miles, Good, 81% reading, 91% maths); and South End Infant School (2.1 miles, Good).
Whitefriars Primary SchoolStanton Cross Primary SchoolSouth End Junior SchoolSouth End Infant School
The trust
Irchester Community Primary School is one of 4 schools run by The Nene Valley Partnership, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
14.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 30 pupils (8.7%) received SEN support and 10 (2.9%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wellingborough Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Thrift Street (after), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 24 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Northamptonshire (141).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Irchester Community Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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
Location
North Northamptonshire published that the last place for 2026 entry went to a family 3.205 miles away (straight line). The cut-off moves every year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from April 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
This is a well-led school where pupils are happy and feel safe.
Leaders and staff work together to provide a caring environment and an ambitious curriculum for all their pupils. Teachers engage pupils in meaningful learning. For example, in mathematics, Reception children work out how many pigs are in the barn. Further up the school, Year 5 pupils need to choose the right sleeping bag when the temperature drops. Pupils enjoy their learning across the curriculum. For example, one pupil commented about geography: 'I love learning about physical features. It really tingles your brain.'
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum, which begins in the early years. In most subjects, leaders have identified the key knowledge and the order in which pupils need to know it. However, in a few subjects, this work is not yet complete. As a result, pupils' knowledge in these subjects is not yet fully secure.
Reading is a top priority throughout the school. Leaders have chosen an early reading programme that meets the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. This programme begins as soon as children start school, in Reception. Staff receive training to deliver the programme. This helps them to deliver effective reading lessons. Teachers are quick to identify pupils who fall behind. Pupils are well supported to read with accuracy. 'Reading buddies' help younger children gain confidence. Leaders encourage a love of reading. Pupils enjoy story times with the school librarian. One pupil, typical of many, commented: 'I love reading because it takes you to a place where anything can happen.'
From Ofsted's June 2023 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
14.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 67% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 68% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 70% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.1
Avg class size
24.5
Infant (KS1)
26.9
KS2
12
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Irchester Community Primary School
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Irchester Community Primary School, with their latest published grades:
- Pop Up Irchester - Day nursery, under 0.1 milesOfsted report card, 21 September 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Happytots - Day nursery, 1.4 milesOfsted, 6 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Rushden Day Nursery - Day nursery, 1.5 milesOfsted, 29 August 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Blossoms Day Nursery and The Hive - Day nursery, 1.7 milesOfsted, 4 April 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Dream Days Nursery Limited - Day nursery, 1.7 milesOfsted, 30 October 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Term dates
Irchester Community Primary 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 Irchester Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Irchester Community Primary 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
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
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 are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Irchester Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Irchester Community Primary School?
North Northamptonshire published that the last place at Irchester Community Primary School offered on distance for 2026 entry went to a family 3.21 miles away. For 2026 entry it had 60 first choices for 60 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
85%
Available places
355 pupils
420 places
65 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
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: Oversubscribed
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the wollaston Primary planning area (North Northamptonshire) will have 401 spare primary places in 2027/28.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
11.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
343
Total Pupils
188
Boys
155
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
17.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,473
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,026
Per pupil
£2022k
Total funding
£108k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.3%
Overall absence
15.7%
Persistent absence
313
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Irchester Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Irchester Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Irchester Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Irchester Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Irchester Community Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in April 2014, it was rated Good.
How close to Irchester Community Primary School do you need to live?
North Northamptonshire published for September 2026 entry that the last place offered at Irchester Community Primary School on distance went to a family 3.205 miles away.
Is it hard to get a place at Irchester Community Primary School?
Irchester Community Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 85% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Irchester Community Primary School?
Classes at Irchester Community Primary School average 26.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Irchester Community Primary School?
Irchester Community Primary School has around 343 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Irchester Community Primary School?
6.3% of sessions were missed at Irchester Community Primary School in 2024/25. 15.7% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near Irchester Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 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 Irchester Community Primary School?
Irchester Community Primary School is at School Lane, Irchester, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN29 7AZ.
Sources: North Northamptonshire admissions booklet; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)