Ruskin Academy, Wellingborough
Ruskin Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Wellingborough, part of Lion Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 21 schools in Wellingborough with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 72% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Capacity
- 72% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Ruskin Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Ruskin Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 86% 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 90% in reading and 92% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Ruskin Academy
Across North Northamptonshire, 94% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in North Northamptonshire lodged 62 appeals against primary school offers; 46 reached a hearing and 2 succeeded (4.3% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ruskin Academy are Ruskin Infant School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Olympic Primary (0.4 miles, Good, 91% reading, 87% maths); Our Lady's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles, Requires improvement, 62% reading, 55% maths); and Croyland Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 62% reading, 67% maths).
Ruskin Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Ruskin Infant SchoolOlympic PrimaryOur Lady's Catholic Primary SchoolCroyland Primary School
The trust
Ruskin Academy is one of 11 schools run by Lion Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 78% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
45.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 27.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%), Black (19%) and Mixed (15%).
Staffing
Ruskin Academy had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 37 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wellingborough Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Canonbury (before), 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ruskin Academy issued 55 suspensions, 22 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Ruskin Academy are Weavers Academy (0.5 miles) and Wrenn School (1.5 miles).
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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
45.1%
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 declined from 90% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 92% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 89% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
28.3
KS2
9
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ruskin Academy
Term dates
Ruskin Academy 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 Ruskin Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ruskin Academy 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
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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 counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
72%
Available places
259 pupils
360 places
101 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wellingborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wellingborough
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.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
39
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
20.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
255
Total Pupils
130
Boys
125
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
36.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,550
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,884
Per pupil
£1677k
Total funding
£161k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
13.6%
Persistent absence
279
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Ruskin Academy
Questions parents ask about Ruskin Academy
What are SATs results like at Ruskin Academy?
Of the pupils at Ruskin Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 86% did so in maths.
What is Ruskin Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ruskin Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2018 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Ruskin Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Ruskin Academy is oversubscribed, North Northamptonshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ruskin Academy?
Ruskin Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 72% of its 360 places.
How big are the classes at Ruskin Academy?
Classes at Ruskin Academy average 28.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Ruskin Academy?
Ruskin Academy has around 255 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ruskin Academy?
5.9% of sessions were missed at Ruskin Academy in 2024/25. 13.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ruskin Academy?
Apply through North Northamptonshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Ruskin Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Ruskin Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Ruskin Academy?
Ruskin Academy is at Ruskin Avenue, Wellingborough, NN8 3EG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)