Sir Christopher Hatton Academy
118%
Capacity
1,481
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Sir Christopher Hatton Academy
Sir Christopher Hatton Academy is rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2022, but the detail tells a more nuanced story. The school’s Progress 8 score of +0.37 is the standout metric here, placing it well above the local authority average of -0.02 and in the top 25 per cent of schools nationally. That means pupils at this large secondary in North Northamptonshire make significantly more academic progress between Year 7 and Year 11 than their peers across the country. The school also ranks fifth out of 20 similar schools in the local authority, putting it in the top quarter of the area. While the overall Ofsted grade dropped from Outstanding in 2015 to Good in 2022, the sixth form and personal development were both rated Outstanding in the latest inspection, suggesting the school’s strengths are concentrated in its older students and the broader support it offers.
Academically, the school performs strongly across the board. At GCSE, 71 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 42 per cent entered the English Baccalaureate. The Attainment 8 score sits at 50.6, which is solid for a state secondary. Digging into the Progress 8 breakdown, the strongest progress is in the EBacc subjects (+0.75) and maths (+0.4), while English and open subjects show more modest gains. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.09, which is classed as average, and the average grade per entry is a B-. The best three A-levels average out to a B- grade as well, with 15.7 per cent of entries achieving AAB or higher. For a school that was previously Outstanding, the current Good rating with pockets of excellence feels like a fair reflection of a school that still delivers strong outcomes for most pupils.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 572 applications for 235 places, with 361 first-preference applications. That works out at 2.43 applicants per place, so families clearly want in. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre. The SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, from dyslexia and autism to speech and language difficulties and physical disabilities. There are also plenty of extracurricular options, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, debate, and eco club. This is a school that suits families who want strong academic progress, especially in maths and EBacc subjects, alongside a broad enrichment offer and a sixth form that’s been judged Outstanding. Just be prepared to compete for a place.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | The Pyghtle, Wellingborough, North Northamptonshire, NN8 4RP |
| Headteacher | Nicholas Salisbury Alastair Mitchell |
| Local Authority | North Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,481 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,481 / 1,254 (118% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 28 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.37)
709th of 3,141
Nationally
49th of 273
In East Midlands
5th of 20
In North Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
40.8
'22/23
40.3
'23/24
35.5
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
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 212 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college34%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained5%
94% 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
2022/2383%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 103 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
28%
Russell Group
31%
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)83%
- Employment10%
- Not sustained4%
- Other education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Mathematics26
- Sociology23
- Government and Politics20
- Biology19
- Media/Film/Tv Studies15
- Chemistry14
- English Language and Literature12
- Geography12
- Business Studies:Single11
- Physics11
- Religious Studies11
- History10
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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed235
572
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
361 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.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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 British42.0%
- White (other)18.1%
- Asian15.7%
- Mixed7.8%
- Black3.2%
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
2024/2575% 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.
14
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
9
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 Sir Christopher Hatton 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
The Pyghtle, Wellingborough
North Northamptonshire, NN8 4RP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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