Bishop Stopford School
105%
Capacity
1,459
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Bishop Stopford School
Bishop Stopford School’s headline Progress 8 score of 1.02 sits well above the North Northamptonshire local authority average of -0.02 for secondary schools, making it the top-ranked school out of 21 in the area. That gap is significant — the school is adding over a grade’s worth of progress per subject compared with the national baseline, while the LA average is essentially flat. It’s also the only school in the authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, having jumped from Requires Improvement in its previous 2022 inspection to Outstanding across quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management in its most recent graded inspection in 2025. The sixth form provision is rated Good. With 1,459 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,383, the school is clearly popular, and the 2.33 oversubscription ratio for Year 7 entry in 2025/26 confirms that demand is strong.
Academically, the school’s performance is consistently strong across the board. The Attainment 8 score of 64.1 is well above the national average, and 91.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 75.1% hitting the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score of 6.05 is high, and 89.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects — a much higher take-up than typical. Progress in English is particularly strong at 1.24, and the EBacc progress score of 1.13 is also very high, though maths progress at 0.36 is more modest. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.03 is in line with the national average, with a points per entry of 35.73, equivalent to a B- grade. The proportion of pupils achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects is 16%, and the progress banding is rated as Average.
The school is a Church of England secondary with a sixth form, and its facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. It offers a wide range of sports and clubs, from rowing and gymnastics to Model UN and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers nine categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, though the parent view data shows some mixed feelings: 55% strongly agreed or agreed that SEND children get the support they need, while 32% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Overall, 92% of parents would recommend the school, and 91% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy. With 6.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively advantaged intake but delivers exceptional academic progress, making it a strong choice for families who prioritise high attainment and a structured, ambitious environment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Headlands, Kettering, North Northamptonshire, NN15 6BJ |
| Headteacher | Jill Silverthorne |
| Local Authority | North Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,459 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,459 / 1,383 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Apr 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.02)
73rd of 3,141
Nationally
4th of 273
In East Midlands
1st of 20
In North Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
42.2
'22/23
35.2
'23/24
35.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2375%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 214 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)75%
- FE college21%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 200 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
32%
Russell Group
38%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)74%
- Employment12%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology74
- Mathematics67
- History59
- Biology50
- Geography42
- Business Studies:Single41
- Chemistry40
- Economics40
- English Language and Literature23
- Geology23
- Physics23
- English Literature21
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
264 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed212
495
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
257 families put this school as their 1st choice (52% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
After-school care
15:15-17:00
Source: bishopstopford.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British57.3%
- Asian20.3%
- Mixed5.1%
- White (other)4.9%
- Black1.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bishop Stopford School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Headlands, Kettering
North Northamptonshire, NN15 6BJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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