Schools by area › West Northamptonshire › Caroline Chisholm School
Caroline Chisholm School
All-through · Mixed · Ages 4–18 · Academy
Wooldale Centre for Learning, Wootton Fields, Northampton NN4 6TP · ccs.northants.sch.uk · 01604 344744
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2020
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 50.4
- average Attainment 8 score. West Northamptonshire 44.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 2.40 mi
- 3.86 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · West Northamptonshire Council
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 2,049
- 47 over 2,002 places · 102%
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Nursery class
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 13%
- First language not English
- 14.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 2.40 mi (3.86 km) from the school. Source: West Northamptonshire Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 156 families put the school first and 210 places were offered; 89% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 210 | 156 | 0.7 | 89% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 201 | 167 | 0.8 | 84% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 215 | 140 | 0.7 | 84% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 212 | 164 | 0.8 | 90% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 214 | 138 | 0.6 | 96% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | All | |
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 2.40 mi3.86 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.4, and 57.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across West Northamptonshire it was 44.7, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 13% the higher standard. Across West Northamptonshire it was 63%, and across England 62%.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35 points per entry).
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲72% | 62% | ||
| ▲13% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲50.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲57.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲77.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲86.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.72 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 56 | −2.9 |
| Further education | 37.5 | +6.2 |
| Other education | 0.7 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.5 | −1.9 |
| Employment | 0.4 | −1.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 1.1 | −0.7 |
| Activity not captured | 1.8 | +0.7 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 165 students | B- (35) | Above average +0.16 | |
| 165 students | B- (35.1) | Above average +0.15 | |
| 67 students | Merit+ (28.5) | Average +0.08 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 166 | C (31.6) | -0.10 |
| 2022/23 | 158 | C+ (32.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 147 | B- (37.6) | — |
| 2018/19 | 143 | C+ (31.8) | -0.07 |
| 2017/18 | 157 | C (30.8) | -0.09 |
| 2016/17 | 189 | C (29.4) | -0.18 |
| 2015/16 | 127 | C+ (32) | -0.02 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 56.6 | −14.3 |
| Further and other education | 1.1 | −0.3 |
| Further education | 0.6 | −0.1 |
| Other education | 0.6 | −0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 8 | +1.9 |
| Employment | 25.1 | +7.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.7 | +3 |
| Activity not captured | 3.4 | +2 |
Ofsted
Caroline Chisholm School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 21 January 2020, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in May 2025 found: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 20 May 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jan 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jan 2020Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Nov 2017Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Sept 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
78% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (322 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 78%
- Replies
- 322
- 15% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 81% who raised concerns
based on the 34% who had a child bullied
based on 93 parents (29%) with SEND