Irthlingborough Junior School

About Irthlingborough Junior School

Irthlingborough Junior School is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11, located in the North Northamptonshire local authority. Among the 111 primary schools in the authority, it sits at rank 45, placing it in the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in the area include Gretton Primary Academy, Stanion Church of England (Aided) Primary School, and Broughton Primary School, all of which score higher on the local ranking metric. The school is led by headteacher Nicholas Garley and has a capacity of 360 pupils, currently home to 358. A quarter of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the school's role in a mixed catchment. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in February 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained, following a full graded inspection in January 2020 that awarded an overall Good rating.

Academically, Irthlingborough Junior School performs broadly in line with the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, matching the North Northamptonshire average of 61%. However, only 3% achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, which is low. Looking at individual subjects, reading was a relative strength: 86% of pupils met the expected standard and 29% reached the higher standard. Maths followed with 81% at expected and 23% at higher, while writing lagged behind at 67% expected and just 6% higher. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 105 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the 55th percentile, and within the East Midlands it sits in the 51st percentile. The Ofsted breakdown from the 2020 graded inspection rated quality of education, personal development, and leadership and management all as Good, but behaviour and attitudes were judged as Requires improvement, a point echoed in the parent view data.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, outdoor playground, forest school, dining hall, playing fields, ICT suite, music rooms and a chapel. Sports on offer include rounders, athletics, gymnastics and dance, while clubs extend to eco club, film club, choir and drama. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. Parent feedback from the most recent survey period (September 2024 to September 2025) was mixed: 81% of the 101 respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed their child is happy and feels safe. However, only 58% agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, and 56% felt concerns are dealt with properly. The school is oversubscribed by just two pupils, so places are generally available. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-resourced junior school with average outcomes and a strong forest school offer, but where behaviour and SEND support may need closer attention.

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