Whitefriars Primary School
94%
Capacity
395
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Whitefriars Primary School
Whitefriars Primary School, a state primary in North Northamptonshire, holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a grade it has maintained consistently across both its recent inspections. The school’s most telling academic metric is its performance in Key Stage 2 SATs, where it achieved a score of 61, matching the local authority average exactly. This places Whitefriars in a solid middle ground within the area, though it sits behind top-performing peers like Gretton Primary Academy and Stanion Church of England Primary School. The Ofsted report awarded Good across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, with early years provision also rated Good. This consistency suggests a reliable standard of teaching and pastoral care, with no significant weaknesses flagged by inspectors. For parents looking at academic outcomes, Whitefriars offers a dependable, average performance relative to its local authority, making it a safe choice rather than an exceptional one.
The school’s exam data tells a straightforward story: it is not an outlier in either direction. With a Key Stage 2 score of 61, it aligns with the typical North Northamptonshire primary, where the average for all schools in the local authority is also 61. This parity means that children at Whitefriars are likely to achieve results in line with their peers across the region. The school has 395 pupils on roll, close to its capacity of 420, and it is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 82 applications for 45 places, with 40 first-preference offers made. This demand suggests local families view it favourably, despite the unremarkable exam results. The Ofsted breakdown shows no areas of concern, with all categories rated Good, including behaviour and attitudes, which inspectors judged to be strong. For parents prioritising a stable, well-managed school with average academic outcomes, Whitefriars fits the bill.
Whitefriars offers a range of facilities that support both learning and wellbeing, including a forest school, sensory room, ICT suite, gymnasium, and playing fields. Sports provision covers swimming, netball, cricket, and gymnastics, while clubs extend to choir, coding, science club, and film club. The school’s SEND provisions are broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a potentially strong fit for families with children who require additional support, particularly given the sensory room and forest school resources. With no nursery or sixth form, it serves the primary age range only. The school is oversubscribed, so parents should be prepared for competition when applying. Overall, Whitefriars suits families seeking a Good-rated, inclusive primary with average academic results and a wide range of extracurricular activities, set within a well-equipped site.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 5 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Boughton Drive, Rushden, North Northamptonshire, NN10 9HX |
| Headteacher | Lucy Burman |
| Local Authority | North Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 395 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.5% |
| School Capacity | 395 / 420 (94% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 27 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
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
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed45
82
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
40 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.8%
- White (other)7.6%
- Mixed4.9%
- Asian1.0%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
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.
7
Total schools
6
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 Whitefriars Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Boughton Drive, Rushden
North Northamptonshire, NN10 9HX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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