Schools by area › West Northamptonshire › The Duston School
The Duston School
All-through · Mixed · Ages 4–18 · Academy
Berrywood Road, Duston, Northampton NN5 6XA · thedustonschool.org · 01604 460004
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 50
- average Attainment 8 score. West Northamptonshire 44.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Reception, September 2026 entry · West Northamptonshire Council
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 2,064
- 234 over 1,830 places · 113%
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Nursery class
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16.4%
- First language not English
- 15.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: West Northamptonshire Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 313 families put the school first and 262 places were offered; 76% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 262 | 313 | 1.2▲ | 76% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 268 | 293 | 1.1▲ | 82% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 272 | 262 | 1 | 89% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 266 | 308 | 1.2▲ | 76% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 264 | 292 | 1.1▲ | 80% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50, and 48.4% 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 7% the higher standard. Across West Northamptonshire it was 63%, and across England 62%.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (37.7 points per entry).
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲72% | 62% | ||
| ●7% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●107 | 106 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
| Grammar and spelling | ●107 | 105 | |
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲50 | 46 | ||
| ▲48.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲71.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲60.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.66 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 39.5 | −7.1 |
| Further education | 45.6 | +9.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.2 | −2.5 |
| Employment | 1.5 | −2.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.6 | +2.1 |
| Activity not captured | 1.5 | +0.2 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 106 students | B- (37.7) | Above average +0.37 | |
| 109 students | B- (37.8) | Well above average +0.39 | |
| 50 students | Dist+ (37.8) | Above average +0.44 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 93 | C+ (33.7) | +0.27 |
| 2022/23 | 110 | C+ (33.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 94 | C+ (32.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 95 | C (30.9) | +0.48 |
| 2017/18 | 99 | C (30.5) | +0.17 |
| 2016/17 | 94 | C- (27.8) | +0.06 |
| 2015/16 | 82 | C (29.4) | +0.16 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 64.5 | −2.5 |
| Further and other education | 3.2 | +0.1 |
| Further education | 1.1 | +0.1 |
| Other education | 2.2 | +0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.4 | +2.3 |
| Employment | 15.1 | −0.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.7 | +0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 2.2 | +0.1 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Duston School on 10 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Strong standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Strong standard
- Post-16 provision: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 10 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Strong standard |
| Post-16 provision | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jun 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective - Nov 2019Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
Oct 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2016Requires 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 Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (160 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 79%
- Positive
- 73%
- Replies
- 160
- 8% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 91% who raised concerns
based on 34 parents (21%) whose child was bullied
based on 50 parents (31%) with SEND