The Duston School, Northampton
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Duston School delivers consistently high-quality teaching that helps all pupils achieve well, including those who start with lower attainment or have additional needs. The school creates a calm, happy environment where pupils are polite, respectful and work hard, with rare incidents of bullying or discrimination. From early years through sixth form, pupils benefit from an ambitious curriculum with strong support for reading, plus enrichment activities, careers guidance and personal development programmes that prepare them for successful futures.
Key Strengths
- Consistently high-quality teaching throughout the school results in pupils achieving better than national averages at key stages 2 and 4, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Positive school culture with high expectations and consistent routines creates a calm, orderly environment where pupils feel safe and happy
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum from early years through sixth form with strong emphasis on reading and phonics, plus broad range of academic and vocational courses
- Robust inclusion systems and specialist support (positive impact centre) ensure all pupils, including those with barriers to learning, achieve and thrive
- High attendance rates achieved through careful monitoring and close work with families to remove barriers
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Cadets, trips, house events, work experience, enrichment days, extra-curricular clubs
The Duston School is a high-performing school across all phases from early years through sixth form, with consistently strong achievement, excellent behaviour and attendance, and a broad, ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils well for their next steps.
At a Glance
16.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 82%. Maths has remained stable at around 82%. Writing has remained stable at around 77%.
Class Sizes
25.3
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
71
Total classes
7 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
113%
Over capacity
2,064 pupils
1,830 capacity
234 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Northampton
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Northampton
Admissions Demand - West Northamptonshire
Places available
5,079
Applications
4,699
Got 1st preference
77.2%
Got preferred school
95.4%
Secondary admissions across West Northamptonshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(20)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.90865%
Overall absence
17.21632%
Persistent absence
1,789
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Duston School
Duston Eldean Primary School
St Luke's Church of England Primary School
Hopping Hill Primary School
Millway Primary School
Chiltern Primary School
Upton Meadows Primary School
Lyncrest Primary School
Harpole Primary School
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Kings Heath Primary Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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