The Ferrers School
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Queensway Higham Ferrers Rushden Northamptonshire NN10 8LF |
| Phone | 01933313411 |
| Reference Number | 139988 |
The Ferrers School demonstrates a commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment where pupils can learn and thrive. The school has made progress in improving attendance and behavior, with strong pastoral care helping to support disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. Despite these strengths, achievement levels, particularly at key stage 4, remain below national averages. This highlights the need for continued focus on improving teaching quality and addressing gaps in students' knowledge. Overall, while the school meets expected standards, there are clear areas where further attention is required for improved outcomes. Leadership has recently undergone changes to enhance the educational experience, and efforts are being made to raise aspirations for all pupils. Senior leaders have identified areas for development, and while some improvements are already yielding results, other initiatives are in the early stages. The school's context, including its integration within the multi-academy trust framework, provides additional support and resources that are being utilized effectively to foster a positive learning environment.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 940 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 50.21%
Girls: 49.79% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 18.9% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 3.3% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 22.8 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 92 | 86 | 178 |
| 8 | 86 | 91 | 177 |
| 9 | 91 | 80 | 171 |
| 10 | 83 | 90 | 173 |
| 11 | 74 | 74 | 148 |
| 12 | 26 | 12 | 38 |
| 13 | 20 | 35 | 55 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 85.1% |
| White, Other | 2.8% |
| Unclassified | 2.8% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2.1% |
| African | 1.5% |
| White & Black (African) | 1% |
| Mixed, Other | 1% |
| Asian, Other | 0.9% |
| White & Asian | 0.7% |
| Caribbean | 0.5% |
| Irish | 0.4% |
| Indian | 0.2% |
| Chinese | 0.1% |
| Pakistani | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Expected standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Needs attention |
| > Achievement | Needs attention |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Expected standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Needs attention |
| > Inclusion | Expected standard |
| > Post-16 Provision | Expected standard |
| Last Report Date | 03 Mar 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 03 Mar 2026 | School inspection |
| 07 Jul 2021 | Full inspection |
| 04 Mar 2021 | Monitoring visit |
| 10 Nov 2020 | Monitoring visit |
| 24 Sep 2019 | Monitoring visit |
| 05 Dec 2018 | Monitoring visit |
| 15 May 2018 | Full inspection |
| 04 Feb 2015 | Full inspection |
| 05 Aug 2013 | Academy conversion letter |
| 16 Nov 2011 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as The Ferrers Specialist Arts College | |
| 16 Nov 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 02 Mar 2009 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 02 Mar 2009 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 07 Mar 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Mar 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Nov 2002 | Full inspection |
| 25 Nov 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong commitment to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing
- Effective pastoral care reducing barriers to attendance
- Progress in improving behavior and classroom management
- Inclusive practices focusing on special educational needs
- Effective leadership with a clear vision for improvement
- High-quality sixth form provision with strong aspirations
- Personalised careers guidance and support for students
Areas for Improvement
- Achievement levels at key stage 4 are below national averages
- Inconsistency in teaching quality affects student learning
- Gaps in basic literacy skills persist for some pupils
- Limited understanding of cultural diversity among pupils
- Need for more robust checks on pupil understanding and misconceptions
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 38.9 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 26.5% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 42.9% |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Sample
UnlockPoints
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 29.29 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 32.78 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | C | C | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | C+ | C+ | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 16.7% |
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 105 | 13 |
| Third Preference | 27 | 1 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
Higham Ferrers Junior School
Saffron Road, Higham Ferrers, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 8ED |
0.36 miles |
|
Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School
Wharf Road, Higham Ferrers, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 8BQ |
0.42 miles |
|
Denfield Park Primary School
Victoria Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0DA |
0.69 miles |
|
Henry Chichele Primary School
School Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, NN10 8NQ |
0.77 miles |
|
Newton Road School
Newton Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0HH |
0.99 miles |
|
Alfred Lord Tennyson School
Alfred Street, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 9YS |
1.03 miles |
|
South End Infant School
Wymington Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 9JU |
1.55 miles |
|
Whitefriars Primary School
Boughton Drive, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 9HX |
1.61 miles |
|
Rushden Primary Academy
Goulsbra Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0YX |
1.62 miles |
|
South End Junior School
Wymington Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 9JU |
1.71 miles |
|
Irthlingborough Nursery and Infant School
Scarborough Street, Irthlingborough, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5TT |
1.94 miles |
|
Irthlingborough Junior School
College Street, Irthlingborough, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5TX |
1.97 miles |
|
Stanwick Primary School
Church Street, Stanwick, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 6PS |
2.24 miles |
|
St Lawrence Church of England Primary School
Manor Lane, Wymington, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 9LL |
2.43 miles |
|
Irchester Community Primary School
School Lane, Irchester, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN29 7AZ |
2.89 miles |
|
Stanton Cross Primary School
Waverley Drive, Stanton Cross, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1GN |
3.14 miles |
|
Windmill Primary School
Windmill Lane, Raunds, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 6LA |
3.53 miles |
|
Raunds Park Infant School
Park Street, Raunds, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 6NB |
3.58 miles |
|
Finedon Mulso Church of England Junior School
Wellingborough Road, Finedon, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5JT |
3.59 miles |
|
St Peter's Church of England Academy
Mountbatten Way, Raunds, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 6PA |
3.64 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Chelveston Road School
Chelveston Road, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, NN10 8HN |
0.45 miles |
|
Rushden Academy
Hayway, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 6AG |
0.83 miles |
|
Huxlow Academy
Finedon Road, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5TY |
2.27 miles |
|
Manor School
Mountbatten Way, Raunds, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 6PA |
3.62 miles |
|
Wellingborough School
London Road, Wellingborough, NN8 2BX |
4.25 miles |
|
Wrenn School
London Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 2DQ |
4.31 miles |
|
Sir Christopher Hatton Academy
The Pyghtle, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 4RP |
4.53 miles |
|
Wollaston School
Irchester Road, Wollaston, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN29 7PH |
4.53 miles |
|
Friars Academy
Friars Close, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 2LA |
4.54 miles |