St Thomas Becket Catholic School
83%
Capacity
900
Pupils
4.3x
Demand
About St Thomas Becket Catholic School
Parents considering St Thomas Becket Catholic School will find a school that is clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 743 applications for 174 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.27. Of those, 220 families put it as their first preference, and 167 first-preference offers were made. This level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. While the school does not publish a parent satisfaction survey, the sheer volume of applications — more than four times the places available — is a practical signal that families in West Northamptonshire are actively choosing it. The school is a Roman Catholic secondary for ages 11 to 18, with a current roll of 900 pupils against a capacity of 1,087, so there is some room for growth. Paul McCahill is the headteacher.
Academically, St Thomas Becket performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.38 is significantly higher than the West Northamptonshire average of 0.05, and the school ranks 5th out of 22 schools in the local authority, placing it in the top 25% nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 56.9, and 66.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school has a strong focus on the EBacc, with 77% of pupils entering the qualification and 48.6% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding marks for sixth-form provision, personal development, and leadership and management. The sixth form, however, shows a value-added score of -0.2, which is below average, and the average A-level grade is C+. This suggests the school is particularly strong at GCSE level.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, theatre, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. There are clubs covering everything from coding and chess to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN. The school also lists provisions for a broad spectrum of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. For families who prioritise strong GCSE outcomes and a Catholic ethos, this school is a clear contender. The high oversubscription means early application is essential, and Catholic criteria will likely play a role in admissions. It is a good fit for families who want a school with strong behaviour and personal development ratings, and who are comfortable with a large, popular secondary that is academically selective in practice if not in name.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Becket Way, Northampton, West Northamptonshire, NN3 6HT |
| Headteacher | Paul McCahill |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 900 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.5% |
| School Capacity | 900 / 1,087 (83% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.38)
673rd of 3,141
Nationally
44th of 273
In East Midlands
5th of 22
In West 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
41.6
'22/23
36.2
'23/24
34.2
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
2022/2367%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 167 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)67%
- FE college21%
- Sixth form college4%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment2%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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: 105 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
50%
Russell Group
50%
Top-third HE
4%
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%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained11%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further 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- Biology45
- Chemistry43
- Mathematics39
- Psychology39
- English Literature25
- Religious Studies23
- Sociology21
- Geography20
- Economics19
- History18
- Business Studies:Single17
- English Language17
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
9Facilities 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
743
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
220 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% 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%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British43.1%
- Asian14.1%
- White (other)13.9%
- Mixed11.1%
- Black2.2%
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
2024/25Half 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.
12
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
7
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 St Thomas Becket Catholic School
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
Becket Way, Northampton
West Northamptonshire, NN3 6HT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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