Northampton School for Boys
106%
Capacity
1,713
Pupils
4.1x
Demand
About Northampton School for Boys
If you're a parent in West Northamptonshire considering Northampton School for Boys, the numbers suggest a school that parents are overwhelmingly happy with. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 97% of the 305 respondents said they would recommend the school. That confidence is backed up by the school's popularity: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 899 applications for just 220 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.09. Of those, 553 families put it as their first choice, and 205 of those received offers. Parents also report high satisfaction with their children's happiness and safety, with 97% agreeing or strongly agreeing that their child is happy, and a similar proportion feeling their child is safe. The school's high expectations are a clear theme, with 98% of parents agreeing that the school has high expectations for their child, and 95% agreeing their child does well there.
Academically, Northampton School for Boys is a standout performer. Its Progress 8 score of 0.95 is rated as 'well above average' and places it first out of 22 schools in the West Northamptonshire local authority, and 99th nationally out of 3,141 schools. To put that in context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is just 0.05, so pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers in other local schools. The school's Attainment 8 score is 61.6, and 88.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. A strong 75% of pupils entered the English Baccalaureate, with 56.4% achieving it at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school's most recent results show a value-added score of 0.04, placing it in the 'average' band, with students achieving an average grade of B across their best three A-levels. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2025 awarded it Outstanding across all graded areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership.
The school is a boys' secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it currently has 1,713 pupils on roll, slightly above its official capacity of 1,617. It offers a wide range of facilities, including a sports hall, swimming pool, theatre, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There is a strong extracurricular programme, with clubs ranging from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN to gardening and an orchestra. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech, language and communication needs. With its high academic standards, strong parent satisfaction, and significant oversubscription, this is a school that suits families who are confident their son will thrive in a focused, high-expectation environment. It is the highest-ranked school in the local authority by Progress 8, and the nearest other Outstanding-rated school is Northampton Academy, 3.1 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Billing Road, Northampton, West Northamptonshire, NN1 5RT |
| Headteacher | Richard Bernard |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,713 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,713 / 1,617 (106% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 28 Apr 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.95)
99th of 3,141
Nationally
5th of 273
In East Midlands
1st of 22
In West 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
43.7
'22/23
40.8
'23/24
39.1
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
2022/2369%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 221 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)69%
- FE college22%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
97% 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
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 252 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
45%
Russell Group
49%
Top-third HE
3%
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)67%
- Employment22%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship2%
- 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- Mathematics110
- Biology66
- Chemistry61
- Psychology59
- Physics46
- History42
- Sociology40
- Geography37
- Physical Education / Sports Studies28
- Mathematics (Further)26
- English Literature25
- English Language24
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.
Ofsted Parent View
305 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed220
899
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
553 families put this school as their 1st choice (62% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British59.4%
- Asian14.7%
- Mixed7.1%
- White (other)6.0%
- Black1.2%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
7
Total schools
7
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Northampton School for Boys
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
Billing Road, Northampton
West Northamptonshire, NN1 5RT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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