Northampton School, Northampton

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Northampton School on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils, including those who face barriers to their learning and wellbeing, achieve highly across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The school has high expectations for pupils' attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Pupils benefit from a rich and ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are ambitious that all pupils will achieve and thrive."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leadership is a significant strength."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school lays strong foundations for adult life."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should maintain their work to secure consistently expert implementation of the curriculum, such as by ensuring that teaching continues to be skilfully adapted to promote excellence in pupils' outcomes, including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should sustain their work to ensure that all pupils benefit from a consistently high-quality personal, social, health and economic curriculum, making any adjustments as necessary to further enhance pupils' preparation for their next steps and life beyond school".

For September 2026 entry, 309 families put Northampton School as their first choice and 1028 named it as one of their preferences, for 209 places offered. That is 1.5 first choices for every place. 139 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Northampton School are Moulton School and Science College (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.6); St Thomas Becket Catholic School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5); Weston Favell Academy (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.9); and Northampton School for Girls (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 59.2).

Northampton School is one of 2 schools run by The Nsb Trust, an academy trust.

10.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (67%), Mixed (11%) and Black (8%).

In 2026, 64 pupils (9.8%) received SEN support and 21 (3.2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Northampton School had 40 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Northampton School.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ashley Lane (opposite), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Northampton School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Northampton School issued 22 suspensions, 5.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Northampton School are Moulton Primary School (0.6 miles), Thorplands Primary School (0.9 miles), Overstone Primary School (1 mile) and Boothville Primary School (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.