Wrenn School
Wellingborough, NN8 2DQ · North Northamptonshire · secondary school
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9th of 19 secondary schools in North Northamptonshire we can score, 21 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.8/10 against 836 of them, against 4.9/10 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 | 45.4 · 51 | 30% | 1.53 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.02 · 49 | 25% | 1.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.0 · 44 | 10% | 0.44 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Wrenn School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, with the most recent inspection in 2024. In 2024/25, 28.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.02 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.9 out of 10 either way).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join NMPAT Tuition and the String Group, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,537 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,632. 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the after-school club integrate with the academic curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Wrenn School
Overview
Wrenn School continues to be a good school, maintaining a "vibrant, inclusive culture" where pupils feel happy and safe. The report highlights a "broad and ambitious" curriculum and strong support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, alongside high aspirations for personal development.
Strengths
- The curriculum is carefully sequenced to help pupils build on existing knowledge, with a "good range of subjects" at GCSE and sixth form.
- Pupils with SEND and those speaking English as an additional language are "well supported" through effective additional support and adapted resources.
- Staff receive "high-quality training" and use effective questioning and assessment strategies to deepen understanding and address misconceptions.
- The school prioritises personal development, delivering a "thoughtfully constructed programme" that covers healthy relationships, knife crime, and spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding.
- Parents and carers are positive about the school’s "caring and supportive ethos," praising staff for looking after children’s needs.
Areas to improve
- Ensure work given to pupils more closely matches the intent of the ambitious curriculum, as sometimes work is too easy and prevents pupils from deepening their learning.
- Support a small group of pupils who continue to struggle to self-regulate under the newly introduced behaviour policy, helping them meet high expectations.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.8 |
| 2024/25 | 40.9 |
| 2025/26 | 45.0 |
| 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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