Refocus, Wellingborough
Refocus is an independent school for pupils aged 14 to 16 in Wellingborough. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Refocus in detail
Refocus in its own words
In its own words: "We will consider all referrals made to us on a case-by-case basis. All referrals that are made will be assessed. The assessment will establish whether Refocus is able to meet the need of the student. We will then invite the student, parent/carer and referring agency for a meeting."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
In 2026, 2 pupils (3.2%) received SEN support and 14 (22.2%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wellingborough Rail Station, about 780 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is All Saints Church (after), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Refocus stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Ofsted also found the school was not keeping to the terms of its registration (for example its age range or pupil numbers).
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Refocus excels at helping pupils who have struggled in education previously to rebuild their confidence and achieve qualifications. The school has created a genuinely supportive environment where pupils develop resilience and independence, while gaining real-world skills through community work like organising sports days and events at local care homes. Staff know pupils well and provide tailored support that helps them succeed both socially and academically.
Key Strengths
- Carefully designed curriculum that prepares pupils well for life beyond school with qualifications in English, mathematics, science and vocational subjects
- Excellent work developing pupils' resilience and independence through deliberately designed opportunities to experience success and failure safely
- Strong support for pupils with special educational needs, including personalised reading help that improves accuracy and fluency
- Staff create a culture of respect, collaboration and high expectations, with pupils feeling calmer and more confident
- Comprehensive careers support including an on-site careers fair with workplace experiences and apprenticeship advice
Areas for Improvement
- Sometimes teachers provide work that doesn't focus enough on the most important curriculum knowledge, which can overwhelm pupils and limit their learning
- School doesn't always identify areas for improvement in teaching quality, meaning staff don't always receive the guidance they need to help pupils learn more successfully
- School is currently exceeding its registered admission number (62 pupils on roll when registered for 60)
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports leadership courses, community sports days, care home events, careers fair
Refocus is an independent school for pupils aged 14-16 that has created a warm, nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and supported. The school is rated Good overall and meets all independent school standards.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Refocus
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Refocus, with their latest published grades:
- Victoria Centre - Day nursery, 0.1 milesOfsted, 5 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Dream Days 2 - Day nursery, 0.1 milesOfsted, 2 December 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
- Articulate After School Club - Day nursery, 0.2 miles
- Playmates Childrens Day Nursery - Day nursery, 0.2 milesOfsted, 13 July 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Ashbourne Day Nurseries at Wellingborough - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted, 3 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 45
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 45 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 13 serious and 30 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 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 are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
63 pupils
62 places
1 pupil over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Across North Northamptonshire council
Places available
4,402
Applications
4,186
Got 1st preference
85.2%
Got preferred school
96.4%
All secondary applications across North Northamptonshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
25.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
63
Total Pupils
48
Boys
15
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Refocus
What is Refocus's Ofsted rating?
Refocus was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2025.
Does Refocus meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in July 2025, Refocus met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Refocus?
Refocus has around 63 pupils on roll.
How many road collisions happen near Refocus?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 45 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 13 serious and 30 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 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 Refocus?
Refocus is at 6 Knox Road, Wellingborough, Wellingborough, NN8 1HW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)