Higham Ferrers Junior School

About Higham Ferrers Junior School

Higham Ferrers Junior School is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11, currently teaching 327 pupils against a capacity of 360. That leaves a small number of spare places, but the real story is in the intake. Over a fifth of its pupils — 22.9% — are eligible for free school meals, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. The school is mixed, non-religious, and sits within the North Northamptonshire local authority. It is not oversubscribed in a way that suggests fierce competition for places, but the combination of a large pupil roll and a high FSM percentage points to a school that is a central part of its local area, drawing from a broad catchment. The headteacher, Victoria Bull, leads a team that has been under scrutiny recently, as the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023 dropped the overall rating from Good to Requires Improvement.

Academically, the picture is mixed. In its most recent inspection, Ofsted rated the quality of education and leadership and management as Requires Improvement, while behaviour and attitudes and personal development were both judged Good. That split tells you the school has strengths in how pupils conduct themselves and grow personally, but the core teaching and leadership need work. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment is 61%, which gives a benchmark, though the school’s own KS2 results are not provided in the data. Compared with its previous inspection in 2013, when overall effectiveness was Good, the drop is significant. The school is not among the top performers in the area — the top three local primaries, Gretton, Stanion, and Broughton, all score in the high 80s and 90s on ranking metrics — so parents prioritising academic outcomes may want to look at those alternatives.

On the practical side, the school offers a decent range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, an ICT suite, and art studios. Sports on offer include netball, athletics, cricket, tennis, and dance, and there are clubs for gardening, drama, eco activities, science, and book club. The SEND provisions are broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech and language communication needs, which suggests the school is equipped to support a range of additional needs. There is no nursery or sixth form, and it is not a boarding school. For families in Higham Ferrers who value a school with strong pastoral and behavioural foundations and a wide extracurricular offer, this could be a good fit, though the Requires Improvement rating means it is worth visiting and asking about the improvement plan.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Higham Ferrers Junior School

Helpful Guides for Parents