Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #16 in North Northamptonshire public Top 37% UK

The Ferrers School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Angela Smith

corporate_fareMERIDIAN TRUST

location_onRushden, NN10 8LF

language Visit Website phone 1933313411

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2021

groups

Students

914

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Attainment 8

38.9

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GCSE Rank

#17 in North Northamptonshire

#2,681 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Ferrers School is a Academy converter secondary school in Rushden, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

The Ferrers School is an academy converter in Rushden, North Northamptonshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of MERIDIAN TRUST. The school has approximately 940 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 38.9, placing the school #17 in North Northamptonshire and #2,681 of 3,216 nationally. 26.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 13 A-level subjects. 39.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 15.5% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.02 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2021. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.5:1. There are 6 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 5 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 13.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

38.9

Grade 5+ E&M

26.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.6%

Entering EBacc46.30%

EBacc APS3.5

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc40.10%

EBacc APS3.45

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc43%

EBacc APS3.85

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.58

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS3.66

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS3.92

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc42%

EBacc APS3.73

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.02

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.7%

Achieving A*–A15.5%

Achieving A*–B39.5%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate88.6%

A-level subjects offered13

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate85.70%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate94.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 July 2021

Inspection Report

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04 March 2021

Inspection Report

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10 November 2020

Inspection Report

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24 September 2019

Inspection Report

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05 December 2018

Inspection Report

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15 May 2018

Inspection Report

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04 February 2015

Inspection Report

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05 August 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2021-07-07

Schools into Special Measures Visit 3 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-12-05

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-05-15

S5 Inspection Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

2015-02-04

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

12.4%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

7.8%(73 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 940 pupils. During this period, there were 117 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 12.4%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	940	117	12.4%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	942	142	15.1%	7.8%	4
2023/24 (Summer term)	911	73	8.0%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	928	93	10.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	930	131	14.1%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	910	72	7.9%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	914	87	9.5%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	918	67	7.3%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	947	80	8.4%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	950	79	8.3%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	950	59	6.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	972	52	5.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	972	8	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	977	54	5.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	999	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	999	31	3.1%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,004	55	5.5%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,021	51	5.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,038	34	3.3%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,050	22	2.1%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,051	15	1.4%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,056	29	2.7%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,068	57	5.3%	3.7%	3
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,029	71	6.9%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,038	75	7.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,038	39	3.8%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 25 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 8 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 8 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

57.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

57.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

28.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

agree50%

disagree21%

strongly disagree29%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree7%

agree50%

disagree21%

strongly disagree21%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree14%

agree43%

disagree7%

strongly disagree29%

not applicable7%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree7%

agree50%

disagree21%

strongly disagree14%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

agree57%

disagree7%

strongly disagree21%

don't know14%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

agree57%

disagree14%

strongly disagree14%

don't know14%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree7%

agree86%

don't know7%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree36%

agree64%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

agree64%

disagree7%

strongly disagree29%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes57%

no43%

Top Secondary Schools in North Northamptonshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Bishop Stopford School

Requires improvement

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Good

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Sir Christopher Hatton Academy

Good

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Kettering Buccleuch Academy

Good

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Prince William School

Good

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Southfield School for Girls

Good

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View all schools in North Northamptonshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in North Northamptonshire

Bishop Stopford School

Brooke Weston Academy

Sir Christopher Hatton Academy

Kettering Buccleuch Academy

Prince William School

Southfield School for Girls