The Ferrers School

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.

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

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Ferrers School attended 89.8% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 26.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 13.4% of pupils at The Ferrers School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 6 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Ferrers School had 18.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 3.5% of pupils at The Ferrers School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Ferrers School received £7,390 and spent £7,743 for each of its 940 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £225,000 (£239 per pupil).

Across all 36 schools of Meridian Trust, income was £7,921 and spending £7,857 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Rushden · North Northamptonshire local authority: places and applications

The Ferrers School is part of Meridian Trust, which runs 36 schools. The nearest others:

• Sharnbrook Academy Bedford
• Harrold Primary Academy Bedford
• Oakley Primary Academy Bedford
• Lincroft Academy Bedford
• Great Ouse Primary Academy Bedford
• Weldon Village Academy Corby
• Crosshall Infant School St Neots
• Crosshall Junior School St Neots
• Sawtry Junior Academy Huntingdon
• Sawtry Village Academy Huntingdon

What is The Ferrers School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Ferrers School is Needs attention, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was The Ferrers School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Ferrers School was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does The Ferrers School have?

The Ferrers School has 937 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Ferrers School cover?

The Ferrers School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The Ferrers School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 40.2, and 25% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Ferrers School?

The Ferrers School is at Queensway, Higham Ferrers, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 8LF.