Caroline Chisholm School
107%
Capacity
2,134
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Caroline Chisholm School
Caroline Chisholm School has a strong parent endorsement, with 78% of respondents to the most recent Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. The survey, which ran from September 2024 to September 2025 and gathered 322 responses, also shows that 84% of parents agree or strongly agree that their child is happy at the school, and 88% feel their child is safe. The school is clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 secondary intake, it received 490 applications for 201 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.44 applicants per place. Of those, 167 were first-preference applications, and 141 of those first-preference families were offered a spot. This level of demand suggests a school that local parents trust and actively choose.
Academically, the school is performing solidly. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025 confirmed that standards are maintained at Good overall, with every category — including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership — rated Good. The early years provision is Outstanding. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.09, which is above the local authority average of 0.05 and places the school 10th out of 22 secondary schools in West Northamptonshire. The Attainment 8 score sits at 51.2, and 81.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school’s progress score is -0.1, which is banded as Average, with pupils averaging a C grade per entry. The EBacc entry rate is high at 85.9%, though only 30.7% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above.
The school is a large all-through state school for pupils aged 4 to 18, with a current roll of 2,134 against a capacity of 2,002, so it is operating slightly above capacity. Facilities are extensive and include a theatre, sports hall, science labs, art studios, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. There is a broad range of sports on offer, from athletics and netball to martial arts and dance, plus clubs like Model UN, coding, and Young Enterprise. The school has a dedicated sixth form and provides SEND support for a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. However, the Parent View data on SEND support is notably split: only 46% of parents agree that the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 54% disagree. This is an area worth investigating further if your child has additional needs. Overall, Caroline Chisholm is a well-regarded, oversubscribed option for families seeking a large, mixed state school with good academic outcomes and strong parent satisfaction, particularly for those without SEND concerns.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Wooldale Centre for Learning, Northampton, West Northamptonshire, NN4 6TP |
| Headteacher | Chris Bishop |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 2,134 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.1% |
| School Capacity | 2,134 / 2,002 (107% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 May 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (21 May 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 23 Feb 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.09)
1333rd of 3,141
Nationally
101st of 273
In East Midlands
10th of 22
In West Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
37.6
'22/23
32.8
'23/24
31.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2371%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 147 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
23%
Top-third HE
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)71%
- Employment18%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained3%
- 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.
Ofsted Parent View
322 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed201
490
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
167 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British60.2%
- Asian10.3%
- White (other)8.8%
- Mixed8.4%
- Black2.5%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Caroline Chisholm 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
Wooldale Centre for Learning, Northampton
West Northamptonshire, NN4 6TP
Wooldale Centre for Learning, Northampton
West Northamptonshire, NN4 6TP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Caroline Chisholm School!
Write a Review