Compass Primary Academy

Compass Primary Academy has improved significantly since its last inspection, achieving a 'Good' rating across several domains, with 'Outstanding' early years provision. Pupils enjoy a happy and inclusive environment, supported by dedicated staff who focus on developing pupils’ resilience and responsibility. The school has established an ambitious curriculum that is now benefiting pupils, particularly in early years, although challenges stemming from the pandemic continue to affect outcomes for some pupils in key stages 1 and 2. The leadership team, along with the Brooke Weston Trust, is committed to ensuring that all pupils reach their potential, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• Pupils are happy and settled in a caring and inclusive environment.
• Strong leadership has created an ambitious curriculum that engages pupils.
• Outstanding early years provision with exceptional support for children.
• Leaders accurately identify the needs of pupils with SEND and provide care.
• Staff demonstrate strong teamwork and commitment to professional development.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils with SEND do not receive the precise support needed to achieve academically.
• Recent improvements in curriculum implementation have not yet reflected consistently in key stage 1 and 2 outcomes.

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 Compass Primary Academy attended 92.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 22.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 4.9% of pupils at Compass Primary Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was 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 Compass Primary Academy had 21.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 19.4% of pupils at Compass Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Compass Primary Academy received £6,758 and spent £6,778 for each of its 421 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £163,000 (-£388 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of The Brooke Weston Trust, income was £8,182 and spending £8,461 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 Kettering · North Northamptonshire local authority: places and applications

Compass Primary Academy is part of The Brooke Weston Trust, which runs 12 schools. The nearest others:

• Kettering Science Academy Kettering
• Brooke Weston Academy Great Oakley
• Oakley Vale Primary School Corby
• Beanfield Primary School Corby
• Corby Technical School Corby
• Thrapston Primary School Kettering
• Corby Business Academy Corby
• Gretton Primary Academy Corby
• The Wisbech Academy Wisbech
• Thomas Clarkson Academy Wisbech

What is Compass Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Compass Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in June 2023.

When was Compass Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Compass Primary Academy was last inspected in June 2023.

How many pupils does Compass Primary Academy have?

Compass Primary Academy has 403 pupils on roll.

What age range does Compass Primary Academy cover?

Compass Primary Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Compass Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Compass Primary Academy?

Compass Primary Academy is at Windmill Avenue, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 7EA.