Isham Church of England Primary School

About Isham Church of England Primary School

Isham Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in North Northamptonshire, currently home to 97 pupils against a capacity of 105, so it is running close to full but with a little headroom. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.4%, which is below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively advantaged intake. Demand is clearly strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 35 applications for just 10 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.5 to one, and all 10 first-preference families were offered a spot. That level of competition signals a school that local parents are keen to get into, and the Church of England character will appeal to families looking for a faith-based setting. The school is led by headteacher Lydia Meek and sits within the North Northamptonshire local authority.

Academically, Isham performs solidly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the local authority average of 61%. The school’s reading results were particularly strong, with 93% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 33% achieving a higher standard. In maths, 73% hit the expected level and 27% reached the higher standard. Average scaled scores were 108 in reading and 104 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 40% of primaries for combined expected standards, and within North Northamptonshire it sits 33rd out of 90 schools. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 judged behaviour and attitudes as Outstanding, while overall effectiveness was not graded because the inspection was a section 8 visit, but quality of education, early years provision, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated Good.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, dining hall, gymnasium, chapel and a Forest School, which will appeal to families who value outdoor learning. Sports include tennis, gymnastics, athletics and cross country, and clubs cover gardening, drama, science and coding. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and hearing impairment. Parent feedback is very positive: 88% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that children are happy, feel safe, and that the school has high expectations. The main note of caution is that 16% of parents disagreed that the school supports wider personal development, and 13% disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly. This is a popular, oversubscribed village primary that suits families who want a Church of England ethos, strong behaviour standards, and a community feel.

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