The Parker E-ACT Academy

About The Parker E-ACT Academy

The Parker E-ACT Academy sits in West Northamptonshire, a local authority with 25 secondary schools, and ranks 20th among them on Progress 8. That places it well behind the top performers in the area: Northampton School for Boys, Northampton Academy, and Wootton Park School all post significantly stronger scores. The school is oversubscribed for its 196 Year 7 places in 2025/26, with 268 total applications and 184 first-preference offers, so demand remains despite its position. It is a mixed, non-religious secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Maughan Johnson, and serves 1179 pupils against a capacity of 1210. A quarter of its students (25.6%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the community it draws from. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in early 2025 rated it Inadequate overall, a sharp drop from its previous Good rating in 2021, with behaviour and attitudes, leadership, and quality of education all judged Inadequate.

Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.27 is below average nationally and significantly below the West Northamptonshire LA average of 0.05. That means pupils here make less progress than their peers across the county, particularly in English (Progress 8 of -0.44) and EBacc subjects (-0.36). Attainment 8 sits at 37.3, and only 28.1% of students achieve a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 5 measure), compared with 50.3% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 19.5%, and just 8.1% achieve the full EBacc at grade 5 or higher. At A-level, the sixth form’s value-added score is -0.26, also below average, with an average points per entry of 29.44 (roughly a C grade). Only 11.8% of students achieve AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The sixth form was rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted.

Parent feedback from the most recent Parent View survey (289 responses) paints a mixed picture. Only 34% would recommend the school, and just 45% agree their child is happy. Behaviour is a major concern: only 32% agree the school ensures good behaviour, and 62% disagree. Concerns about SEND support are also prominent — 67% of parents who responded to that question disagree that children with special educational needs get the help they need. On the positive side, 63% agree there is a good range of subjects, and 59% say their child can take part in clubs and activities. The school offers a SEN Unit and provisions for dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and physical disability. Facilities include science labs, a sixth form centre, sports hall, astro turf, and tennis courts, with clubs ranging from gardening to Model UN. For families weighing up options in West Northamptonshire, this is a school that clearly has significant ground to recover in both behaviour and academic outcomes, but its oversubscription suggests it remains a local choice for those prioritising proximity or a sixth form on site.

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