Classpot

Abbeyfield School

West Northamptonshire, NN4 8BUSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2026
Progress 8
+0.03
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.5×
Not oversubscribed
127 1st-choice / 238 places
Ranking
#1,442
of 3,141 nationally

About Abbeyfield School

Abbeyfield School is a mixed secondary and sixth form in West Northamptonshire that is currently running very close to its full capacity of 1,350 pupils, with 1,358 on roll. That slight overshoot reflects genuine demand: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 350 applications for 238 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.47. Only 127 first-preference offers were made, meaning many families who put Abbeyfield top of their list were disappointed. The school serves a notably diverse intake in terms of disadvantage — 24.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average of around 23% and significantly higher than the local authority average of roughly 18%. This suggests Abbeyfield draws from a broad catchment and is a genuinely comprehensive secondary. The headteacher is Henry Gowney-Hedges, and the school has no religious character.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMereway, Northampton, West Northamptonshire, NN4 8BU
HeadteacherHenry Gowney-Hedges
Local AuthorityWest Northamptonshire
Number of Pupils1,358
Free School Meals (FSM)24.7%
School Capacity1,358 / 1,350 (101% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

15 Sept 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (15 Sept 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 27 Jun 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Swimming PoolDining HallSports HallSixth Form CentreScience LabsMusic RoomsTennis CourtsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

HockeyAthleticsFootballMartial ArtsTennisDance

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubDramaChoirOrchestraBook ClubGardeningYoung EnterpriseModel United NationsDebateDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyProfound LearningMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: abbeyfieldschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Abbeyfield School

Abbeyfield School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.