Northampton School for Boys, Northampton

In its own words: "We offer a unique experience through a rich curriculum and an extensive range of activities outside the classroom. When students leave, they should be equipped to deal with life beyond school. They should be confident and well-rounded young people who are able to form good relationships with others."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Northampton School for Boys is an 11 to 18 school which offers single sex education to boys from Years 7 to 11 with girls admitted into the Sixth Form. The school has an illustrious heritage; founded in 1541 by Thomas Chipsey in Bridge Street it then moved to the present site in 1911."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, orchestra, photography and debating.

In 2026, pupils at Northampton School for Boys averaged an Attainment 8 score of 59, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.3 in West Northamptonshire and 47 across England.

74% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in West Northamptonshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 58.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.95: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 51.8, against 60 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 571 families put Northampton School for Boys as their first choice and 981 named it as one of their preferences, for 218 places offered. That is 2.6 first choices for every place. 365 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Northampton School for Boys are Northampton International Academy (1.4 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 38.9); Malcolm Arnold Academy (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.4); Weston Favell Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.9); and Northampton School for Girls (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 59.2).

Northampton School for Boys's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

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

305 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Northampton School for Boys (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).

Of the 220 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 265 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 63% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 23% into work. 38% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

8.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 205 pupils (11.7%) received SEN support and 40 (2.3%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Northampton Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School for Boys (outside), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 542 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 West Northamptonshire (90), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Northampton School for Boys issued 38 suspensions, 2.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Northampton School for Boys are Barry Primary School (0.3 miles), Abington Vale Primary School (0.4 miles), Vernon Terrace Primary School (0.5 miles) and Stimpson Avenue Academy (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.