Guilsborough Academy
89%
Capacity
1,260
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Guilsborough Academy
Just over two-thirds of parents who responded to the Ofsted Parent View survey would recommend Guilsborough Academy to other families, with 69% saying yes. That’s a solid majority, though it’s worth noting that 31% said they wouldn’t recommend it. The survey, which ran from September 2024 to September 2025, collected 179 responses. On specific questions, the picture is mixed: 75% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 81% felt their child is safe. However, only 42% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and just 42% felt that SEND children get the support they need. The school is clearly popular locally — for the 2025/26 intake it was oversubscribed, with 293 applications for 188 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.56. Of those, 152 were first-preference applications, and all 152 received offers.
Academically, Guilsborough Academy is a school where outcomes sit below the local average. Its Progress 8 score of -0.17 means pupils achieve slightly less than expected compared with peers nationally, and that places it 16th out of 22 similar schools in West Northamptonshire. The local authority average Progress 8 is 0.05, so the gap is modest but real. At KS4, the Attainment 8 score is 46.1, and 44.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 4.11, with 18.5% of pupils entering the full EBacc. At A-level, the picture is brighter: the school’s sixth form was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection, and the average points per entry is 33.05, equivalent to a C+ grade. The value-added score for sixth form is 0.04, which is broadly in line with expectations.
Guilsborough Academy is a large secondary school with 1,260 pupils on roll, operating below its capacity of 1,412. It has a dedicated sixth form and a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and science labs. The school offers a broad set of clubs and activities, from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise to coding, gardening, and a newspaper club. Sports provision includes cricket, rugby, hockey, dance, and martial arts. The school’s SEND register covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. However, only 42% of parents felt SEND support was adequate, and 54% disagreed or strongly disagreed. This is a school that suits families who value a large, mixed, non-denominational setting with a strong sixth form and good facilities, but who are aware that academic outcomes are below the local average and that parent satisfaction on some key measures is mixed.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | West Haddon Road, Northampton, West Northamptonshire, NN6 8QE |
| Headteacher | Simon Frazer |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,260 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,260 / 1,412 (89% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
3 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.17)
1937th of 3,141
Nationally
157th of 273
In East Midlands
16th 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
38.5
'22/23
36.9
'23/24
33.0
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
2022/2353%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 229 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)53%
- FE college34%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained4%
96% 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
2022/2348%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 84 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
22%
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)48%
- Employment37%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education2%
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- Psychology48
- Business Studies:Single38
- Sociology20
- Biology19
- Economics19
- Mathematics19
- Geography16
- Media/Film/Tv Studies14
- History13
- Chemistry12
- Art and Design (Fine Art)11
- Art and Design (Photography)11
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
179 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed188
293
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
152 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.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.1%
- White (other)5.6%
- Mixed3.5%
- Asian1.2%
- Black0.6%
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.
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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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 Guilsborough 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
West Haddon Road, Northampton
West Northamptonshire, NN6 8QE
West Haddon Road, Northampton
West Northamptonshire, NN6 8QE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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