Montsaye Academy

About Montsaye Academy

Just over half of parents who applied for a Year 7 place at Montsaye Academy for the 2025/26 academic year got their first preference, with 131 offers made from 171 total applications. The school was slightly oversubscribed, with a ratio of 1.06 applicants per place, suggesting that while it remains a popular choice locally, it is not among the most fiercely contested secondaries in North Northamptonshire. The most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in November 2023, rated the school Inadequate across every category, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This was a significant downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2019, and the report noted serious concerns in all areas. For parents weighing up options, the parent-view data is not available here, but the oversubscription figure and the sharp Ofsted decline are the clearest signals of how the school is currently regarded.

Academically, Montsaye’s results place it firmly in the bottom tier of schools nationally. Its Progress 8 score of -0.57 is rated ‘well below average’, meaning pupils achieved nearly two-thirds of a grade less per subject than similar students nationally. This is a long way behind the local authority average of -0.02. The Attainment 8 score sits at 37.7, and just 25.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is low at 16.5%, and only 5.7% of students entered the full EBacc. At sixth form, the picture is similarly challenging: a value-added score of -0.52 and an average points per entry of 26.25 (equivalent to a C- grade) place progress in the ‘below average’ banding. In North Northamptonshire, Montsaye ranks 18th out of 20 secondary schools by Progress 8, and nationally it sits in the bottom 14% of all schools.

The school does offer a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre, alongside clubs like Model UN, Young Enterprise, and Eco Club. Its SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, which may appeal to families whose children require additional support. However, the Inadequate Ofsted rating and consistently low academic outcomes mean this is a school that will suit families who are closely engaged and prepared to monitor progress carefully. With a new headteacher, Ben Baines, now in post, the school is clearly at a turning point, but the data suggests significant improvement is needed before it can be considered a strong academic choice.

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