The Duston School
110%
Capacity
2,018
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About The Duston School
The Duston School is a popular choice among local families, with 293 first-preference applications for 268 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, resulting in an oversubscription ratio of 1.95. Of those who applied, 240 received a first-preference offer, indicating strong demand. While the school does not publish a parent-view survey recommendation percentage, the high application numbers suggest a positive reputation in the community. The school is a large all-through state secondary for pupils aged 4 to 18, with 2018 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1830, meaning it is operating slightly above its intended size. Headteacher Samuel Strickland leads a mixed, non-religious school in West Northamptonshire. The most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated the school Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This marks a significant improvement from the previous inspection in 2018, when the school was rated Requires Improvement overall.
Academically, The Duston School performs solidly above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.14 is higher than the West Northamptonshire average of 0.05, placing it 9th out of 22 schools in the local authority. In the East Midlands region, it ranks 91st out of 273 schools, and nationally it sits in the 39th percentile. The Attainment 8 score is 48.4, and 76% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, while 52.9% achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 65%, with 37.3% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score of 0.27 is rated Above average, with an average points per entry of 33.65, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average grade is also C+, and 14% of entries achieved AAB or higher. Progress in maths and English at KS4 is positive, with Progress 8 scores of 0.22 and 0.21 respectively.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. Sports provision includes rowing, rugby, swimming, and gymnastics, while extracurricular clubs cover coding, drama, debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Duston School has a comprehensive SEND offer, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 16.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Given its strong Progress 8 score, above-average sixth-form value added, and oversubscribed admissions, this school will suit families looking for a large, inclusive secondary that has shown clear improvement and offers a broad curriculum with good academic outcomes relative to the local area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Berrywood Road, Northampton, West Northamptonshire, NN5 6XA |
| Headteacher | Samuel Strickland |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 2,018 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.5% |
| School Capacity | 2,018 / 1,830 (110% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Jun 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 Sept 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.14)
1223rd of 3,141
Nationally
91st of 273
In East Midlands
9th of 22
In West Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
32.7
'22/23
33.8
'23/24
33.6
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
2022/2349%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 240 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)49%
- FE college41%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained3%
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
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 96 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
15%
Russell Group
21%
Top-third HE
1%
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)68%
- Employment16%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Other education2%
- 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- Psychology38
- Sociology31
- History27
- Mathematics26
- Chemistry24
- Biology22
- Government and Politics22
- English Literature16
- Media/Film/Tv Studies15
- Art and Design11
- Physics9
- English Language8
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed268
523
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
293 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% 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 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 British67.9%
- White (other)7.7%
- Mixed7.6%
- Asian5.6%
- Black3.8%
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.
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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 The Duston 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
Berrywood Road, Northampton
West Northamptonshire, NN5 6XA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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