Rushden Academy
72%
Capacity
932
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Rushden Academy
Rushden Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 302 applications for 173 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.75. Of those applications, 190 put the school as their first preference, and 168 first-preference offers were made. While the school does not publish a parent-view survey score, this level of demand suggests a solid reputation in the community. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Jonathan Firth. It currently has 932 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1295, so there is some room for growth. The most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2022, rated the school Good overall, with Good marks across every category including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a significant turnaround from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Inadequate.
Academically, the school's results are mixed. At Key Stage 4, its Progress 8 score of -0.39 is below the local authority average of -0.02, placing it 16th out of 20 schools in North Northamptonshire. The Attainment 8 score is 39.8, and 49% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 28.4% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 19.4%, with just 8.4% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly modest: a value-added score of -0.49 is rated Below average, with an average points per entry of 28.76 (equivalent to a C grade). Only 11.8% of students achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% for Progress 8, at the 77th percentile.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, art studios, an ICT suite, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include netball, football, hockey, gymnastics, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and Young Enterprise to Eco Club and Chess. The SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical or sensory impairments. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children need structured support. The school is oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is advisable. It suits families looking for a Good-rated secondary with a clear improvement trajectory, a full sixth form, and a wide range of extracurricular activities, though those prioritising top academic outcomes may want to compare with higher-ranked local schools like Bishop Stopford School or Brooke Weston Academy.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hayway, Rushden, North Northamptonshire, NN10 6AG |
| Headteacher | Jonathan Firth |
| Local Authority | North Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 932 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.7% |
| School Capacity | 932 / 1,295 (72% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Oct 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.39)
2424th of 3,141
Nationally
200th of 273
In East Midlands
16th of 20
In North Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
31.1
'22/23
24.6
'23/24
28.8
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
2022/2341%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 127 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)41%
- FE college41%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship2%
92% 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
2022/2336%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 44 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
12%
Russell Group
13%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- Employment41%
- University (HE)36%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education2%
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- Psychology15
- Sociology13
- Art and Design (Fine Art)7
- Biology5
- English Literature5
- Media/Film/Tv Studies5
- Art and Design (Photography)4
- Business Studies:Single4
- Geography4
- History4
- Mathematics4
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed173
302
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
190 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: rushden-academy.net. 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British76.2%
- White (other)7.7%
- Mixed5.3%
- Asian5.1%
- Black2.5%
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.
75% 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
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Rushden 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
Hayway, Rushden
North Northamptonshire, NN10 6AG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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