Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School, Northampton

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school's curriculum is well organised."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a great start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school knows its pupils well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and what needs to be improved."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "A coherent programme for personal development enables pupils to develop their spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding effectively."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Some pupils have gaps in their knowledge, particularly in mathematics and handwriting."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Too many pupils, particularly some disadvantaged pupils, continue to miss too much school over long periods."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should embed and refine their work to improve pupils' attendance, especially for disadvantaged pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that gaps in pupils' learning are consistently identified and addressed to improve all aspects of pupils' mathematics, letter formation and handwriting"; "Leaders should evaluate the impact of their actions on the full range of groups of pupils at the school more precisely".

In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 73% in North Northamptonshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 78% in reading and 78% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 7 families put Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School are Sywell Church of England Primary School (1.3 miles, 47% reading, 40% maths); Ecton Village Primary School (2 miles, Good, 50% reading, 75% maths); Overstone Primary School (2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 73% maths); and Ruskin Academy (2.2 miles, Good, 84% reading, 86% maths).

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School is one of 36 schools run by Peterborough Diocese Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 86% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

8.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 17 pupils (23.6%) received SEN support and 3 (4.2%) 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.

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tinkers Crescent (adjacent), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Northamptonshire (141).

In 2024/25, Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 9.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.