Kettering Buccleuch Academy
122%
Capacity
1,851
Pupils
3.7x
Demand
About Kettering Buccleuch Academy
Kettering Buccleuch Academy stands out sharply against the local authority average for secondary schools. While the average Progress 8 score across North Northamptonshire sits at -0.02, this school achieves a score of +0.52, placing it firmly in the 'well above average' banding nationally. That gap of over half a grade per subject is significant and places the academy third out of 21 secondary schools in the local authority, in the top 15 per cent regionally and the top 15 per cent nationally. It is worth noting that the nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted, Bishop Stopford School, is just over three kilometres away and posts an even higher Progress 8 score of 1.02, so Kettering Buccleuch is not the top performer in the area, but it is clearly outperforming the vast majority of its local peers.
The school's strong headline performance is backed up by solid detail across the curriculum. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.7, with 65.1 per cent securing a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 51.1 per cent reaching the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score of 4.8 is respectable, and 66.4 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. Progress in the EBacc subjects is particularly strong at +0.82, while English and maths progress scores are +0.31 and +0.41 respectively. At Key Stage 5, the school's value added score of +0.14 is rated 'average', with pupils achieving an average of B- across their best three A-levels, worth 38.05 points per entry. The sixth form provision was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the most recent inspection, and the school's overall effectiveness is Good, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating.
The academy is heavily oversubscribed, receiving 643 applications for 174 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 259 first-preference applications for 164 offers — a ratio of 3.7 applicants per place. It is a large all-through school with 1,851 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,520, and a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 25.8 per cent. Facilities are comprehensive and include a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, music rooms, art studios, ICT suites, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of sports and clubs, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and has extensive SEND provision covering ten categories from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that delivers strong academic progress across the board, particularly for a state comprehensive, and suits families looking for a large, inclusive setting with a Christian character and a sixth form that has been recognised as outstanding.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | Weekley Glebe Road, Kettering, North Northamptonshire, NN16 9NS |
| Headteacher | Chloe Buckenham |
| Local Authority | North Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,851 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,851 / 1,520 (122% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.52)
483rd of 3,141
Nationally
22nd of 273
In East Midlands
3rd of 20
In North Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
36.8
'22/23
37.4
'23/24
37.7
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
2022/2351%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 227 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)51%
- FE college30%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
91% 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
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 113 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
27%
Russell Group
27%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)62%
- Employment20%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
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- Mathematics30
- Business Studies:Single23
- Biology20
- Psychology20
- Economics19
- Media/Film/Tv Studies19
- History17
- Chemistry16
- Sociology16
- English Language and Literature15
- Geography14
- Law13
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed174
643
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
259 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Breakfast club
07:45-08:40
After-school care
15:10-16:45
Source: kba.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British73.7%
- White (other)12.5%
- Mixed5.2%
- Asian2.7%
- Black0.5%
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.
Half 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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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 Kettering Buccleuch 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
Weekley Glebe Road, Kettering
North Northamptonshire, NN16 9NS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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