DSLV E-ACT Academy
85%
Capacity
1,020
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About DSLV E-ACT Academy
DSLV E-ACT Academy is a mixed all-through state school in West Northamptonshire that currently educates 1,020 pupils against a capacity of 1,200, leaving some headroom for growth. Its intake reflects a significantly higher-than-average level of disadvantage, with 32% of pupils eligible for free school meals — well above the national secondary average. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 secondary intake, the school received 148 applications for 91 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.63. Of those, 68 were first-preference applications, and all 68 received offers. The school is part of the E-ACT multi-academy trust and has co-headteachers, with Hannah Rowe leading the primary phase and Sarah Hadlow the secondary. It has no religious character and offers nursery provision as well as a sixth form, making it a genuine all-through option for families looking for continuity from age 3 to 18.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and sixth-form provision. However, its 2023/24 Progress 8 score of -0.41 is below average nationally and well below the West Northamptonshire local authority average of +0.05, placing it 21st out of 22 secondary schools in the area. The Attainment 8 score sits at 37.4, and just 33.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is low at 9.2%, and only 3.9% achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.32, with an average points per entry of 29.59 (grade C). The sixth form is small, with just 19 pupils included in the results, and its progress banding is rated below average.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, library, music rooms, ICT suite, sixth-form centre, and tennis courts. Sports provision is broad, with options from hockey and rugby to rowing and martial arts, and there are numerous clubs such as coding, debate, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language challenges, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes the school a strong option for families whose children need a well-resourced SEND framework. Given its below-average Progress 8 and low EBacc entry, it may particularly suit families who prioritise a supportive, inclusive environment and broad enrichment over top-tier academic outcomes, especially those looking for an all-through school with nursery and sixth-form provision under one roof.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hawke Road, Daventry, West Northamptonshire, NN11 4LJ |
| Headteacher | Co-headteachers: Hannah Rowe - Primary Sarah Hadlow - Secondary |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,020 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,020 / 1,200 (85% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Apr 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jun 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.41)
2469th of 3,141
Nationally
209th of 273
In East Midlands
21st of 22
In West Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
33.2
'22/23
27.6
'23/24
29.6
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
2022/2342%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 111 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)42%
- FE college39%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
94% 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
2022/2361%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 18 pupils).
- University (HE)61%
- Employment28%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained6%
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- Sociology13
- Psychology10
- English Literature9
- History8
- Business Studies:Single6
- Biology5
- English Language5
- Geography5
- Government and Politics5
- Art and Design (Fine Art)4
- Drama and Theatre Studies3
- Music3
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed91
148
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
68 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% 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 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.7%
- White (other)15.1%
- Mixed5.5%
- Asian4.1%
- Black0.9%
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.
75% 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.
6
Total schools
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About DSLV E-ACT Academy
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
Hawke Road, Daventry
West Northamptonshire, NN11 4LJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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