Caroline Chisholm School
Northampton, NN4 6TP · West Northamptonshire · all-through school
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7th of 22 secondary schools in West Northamptonshire we can score, 24 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 625 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.6/10 among them, against 6.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 53.8 · 71 | 30% | 2.13 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.09 · 57 | 25% | 1.41 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 52.0 · 78 | 10% | 0.78 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Caroline Chisholm School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 57.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.9 out of 10 among them, against 6.9 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2025.
Beyond the classroom
The school offers a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 2,049 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,002. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What specific support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How is the CCF structured for different year groups?
What Ofsted said about Caroline Chisholm School
Overview
Caroline Chisholm School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “calm and orderly” environment where pupils “achieve well” and “enjoy attending.” Leaders are “considerate of staff’s workload,” and the school provides an “ambitious and well-designed curriculum” that prepares pupils for life in modern Britain.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “carefully sequenced,” enabling most pupils to “deepen their knowledge over time” and achieve well across key stages.
- Staff use “expert subject knowledge” to deliver effective lessons, with teachers checking understanding to “resolve any misconceptions.”
- Reading is a priority; phonics staff are “well trained,” and the school “quickly spots” gaps to provide targeted support.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive “bespoke support” that helps them access the curriculum.
- There are “many opportunities” for pupils to develop talents through extra-curricular activities, mentoring, and leadership roles.
Areas to improve
- Strategies for supporting pupils with SEND “lack clarity,” meaning teaching is “not adapted well enough” for some pupils.
- In some subjects, learning activities do not help pupils “build their knowledge as well as they could,” and gaps are not always resolved.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 51.2 |
| 2024/25 | 50.4 |
| 2025/26 | 52.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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