Havelock Infant School

About Havelock Infant School

Havelock Infant School stands out sharply against the North Northamptonshire average for primary schools. While the local authority’s average Key Stage 2 score sits at 61, Havelock doesn’t serve Key Stage 2 pupils at all — it’s a 5–7 infant school, so its academic focus is on the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. What really sets it apart is its Ofsted rating: it’s one of only two primary schools in a local authority of 111 to hold an Outstanding grade. That’s a remarkable outlier. In its most recent graded inspection in 2016, inspectors rated overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision all as Outstanding. An ungraded inspection in January 2024 confirmed the school remains Outstanding, meaning the quality hasn’t slipped. For a small infant school with 197 pupils, that consistency is notable — especially compared with the wider LA picture where the vast majority of primaries are Good or lower.

Academically, the picture is strong but comes with a caveat: because Havelock only covers Reception to Year 2, there are no published Key Stage 2 SATs results to compare against the LA average. Instead, the most telling metric is the early years provision, which was graded Outstanding in both the 2016 graded inspection and the 2024 ungraded visit. The school’s Progress 8 measure isn’t applicable at this age, but the Ofsted breakdown shows behaviour and attitudes were not separately graded in the most recent inspection — though the Outstanding overall rating implies strong foundations. With 17.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a slightly above-average proportion of disadvantaged children for the area, yet still achieves top-tier inspection outcomes. That suggests effective support for all learners, particularly given the range of SEND provisions on offer, including support for speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health.

Havelock is a popular choice locally. For the 2025/26 intake, it offered 56 places and received 87 total applications, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.55 applicants per place. All 56 first-preference applicants were offered a place, so living close enough to qualify as a first preference is key. The school sits on a site with playing fields, a sports hall, music rooms, art studios and even a chapel — generous facilities for an infant school. Sports include swimming, gymnastics, tennis and netball, while clubs range from chess and coding to choir and drama. The SEND provisions cover moderate learning difficulty, physical disability and speech and language needs, so it’s well-equipped for children who need extra support. For families seeking a small, Outstanding-rated infant school with strong early years provision and a broad enrichment offer, Havelock is a compelling option — provided you can secure a place.

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