Kettering Science Academy

State school · Mixed · ages 11–19 · with sixth formNorth Northamptonshire, Kettering NN15school website

About half of sixth-formers go on to university — well above the England rate.

Where this school leads
61%

of sixth-form leavers started university · North Northamptonshire 57% · England 37% · DfE destination measures, students who left in 2023

Knowledge sphere of Kettering Science Academy: fields of knowledge mapped by the subjects taken here, by ISCED levelLanguage & Communication · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Language & Communication · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 54%Language & Communication · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 46%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Natural Sciences · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 43%Natural Sciences · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 12%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 33%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Health & Safety · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 38%Health & Safety · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Business & Administration · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 12%Business & Administration · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 1%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 4%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 19%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Transversal Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 27%Transversal Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 44%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%LanguageMathsScienceICTEngineeringHealthBusinessLawSocialArtsTransversalGreen
Ofsted
Good
Places
—
Pupils
1,477
Free school meals
27.5%

Ofsted: Full inspection, 11 July 2023 · report. Places: the last distance at which places were offered is not on file (it comes from North Northamptonshire’s allocation statistics). Free school meals: pupils eligible, a measure of family income.

Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registrations: Henry Gotch Primary School (URN 121837, until 7 September 2009); Ise Community College (URN 122054, until 7 September 2009).

After Year 11 · age 16

Where do pupils go at 16?

78%stayed in education after Year 11
This school78%
North Northamptonshire86%
England86%

DfE Key Stage 4 destination measures · 234 pupils who left Year 11 in 2023

Of the 234 pupils who finished Year 11 at Kettering Science Academy in 2023, 25% stayed on in Kettering Science Academy’s own sixth form (North Northamptonshire average 40%), 53% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.

Stayed in education — counted only if the pupil was still there for two terms of the next year; apprenticeships and jobs are counted the same way.

Full breakdown11
MeasureKettering Science AcademyNorth NorthamptonshireEngland
Pupils in the cohort2343,979607,348
Any sustained destination85%91%92%
Stayed in education78%86%86%
— school sixth form25%40%34%
— sixth form college0%—13%
— further education college53%44%37%
— other education0%2%2%
Apprenticeship3%3%3%
Employment3%3%3%
No sustained destination11%6%6%
Destination unknown4%3%3%
After sixth form · age 18

Where do sixth-formers go at 18?

16%went to one of the most selective universities
This school16%
North Northamptonshire21%
England19%

DfE 16–18 destination measures · 64 students who left in 2023

61% went to university (England 37%). 6% started an apprenticeship (England 7%). 13% went into work and 9% had no steady place a year on (England 28% and 16%).

Most selective universities — the third of UK universities whose entrants hold the highest grades; the share is of students who completed level 3 qualifications.

Full breakdown7
MeasureKettering Science AcademyNorth NorthamptonshireEngland
Students in the cohort641,635541,441
Any sustained destination84%90%79%
University (higher education)61%57%37%
— most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students16%21%19%
Further education0%1%5%
Apprenticeship6%5%7%
Employment13%26%28%
No sustained destination9%8%16%
Universities · named

Which universities did they go to?

1university has told us how many applied, were offered a place and enrolled

Named universities — most schools do not publish this; the official DfE figures above only say how many went to university and how selective those universities were.

universities’ answers to sch.today’s Freedom of Information requests · request tracker

What universities’ own admissions data say3

For each entry year: how many of this school’s students applied, received an offer and enrolled. Counts under five are shown as “<5” to protect individuals. Applications exclude Clearing; enrolments are students who completed registration.

UniversityEntry yearAppliedOffersEnrolled
University of Bristol2025<5<5—
2024<5<5—
2023<5<5—

A university’s enrolment count and a school’s own destinations list can differ: the school counts places accepted in the summer, the university counts students registered in the autumn.

GCSE · Year 11 · 2025

How do GCSE results compare?

37.3Attainment 8 score, out of 90
This school37.3
North Northamptonshire42.9
England46.1

Attainment 8 — average GCSE points across eight subjects, English and maths counted twice; grade 5 in everything scores 50.

DfE performance tables 2024/2025 · 264 pupils in Year 11

32% of pupils here are disadvantaged (England 28%). Disadvantaged pupils here scored 31.4 — below disadvantaged pupils across England (34.9).

28% got grade 5 or above in both English and maths (North Northamptonshire 38%, England 45%).

Grade 5 — a “strong pass”; grade 4 is a “standard pass”. Progress 8 is not published for 2025: this cohort had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020–21, so there is no baseline.

All GCSE measures10
MeasureKettering Science AcademyNorth NorthamptonshireEngland
Attainment 8 (average points per pupil)37.342.946.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths28%38%45%
Grade 4 or above in English and maths47%59%65%
Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects51%37%41%
EBacc average point score3.393.824.09
Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort32%23%28%
Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils31.431.534.9
Attainment 8 — other pupils40.146.350.4
Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2)———
English as an additional language30%17%19%
Subjects · 2025

What do pupils study?

40.93%of the Key Stage 3, GCSE and A level curriculum mapped by the subjects taken here

Mapped — the share of the 3,288 learning outcomes the Department for Education sets for these stages that the subjects taken here cover, weighted by how many pupils take each.

DfE subject entries 2025 · curriculum catalogue by sch.today

Statistics stands out at GCSE — 39% of the year group took it, against 5% across England. At A level it is Fine Art: 16% of students (England 3%).

Language & Communication54%
Mathematics & Statistics46%
Green & Sustainability44%
Natural Sciences43%
Health & Safety38%

Fields of knowledge — twelve fields the curriculum catalogue sorts every learning outcome into; the bars show the GCSE and A level ring.

GCSE subjects25

Entries as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.

SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEnglandGrades 7–9EnglandGrades 4–9
English Language26098%89%10%20%53%
Mathematics26098%88%10%22%56%
English Literature23489%86%11%21%61%
Combined Science21180%65%3%9%34%
History16061%41%15%26%48%
Statistics10339%5%0%20%54%
Geography7729%41%12%25%47%
French7027%18%10%29%47%
Business Studies6424%18%3%20%31%
German5722%5%11%33%68%
Chemistry4818%23%23%47%90%
Physics4818%23%21%46%83%
Biology4818%23%21%45%85%
Computer Science4015%13%10%30%30%
Photography3814%6%3%19%58%
Media Studies3313%4%18%20%64%
Graphic Communication239%1%0%23%61%
Fine Art208%9%5%28%80%
Religious Studies197%31%11%32%58%
Polish166%1%31%84%88%
Modern Greek31%0%—33%—
Russian21%0%—87%—
Portuguese21%0%—50%—
Spanish10%19%—27%—
Italian10%0%—53%—
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications9
SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined)4470%—
Hospitality / Catering Studies4063%—
Health Studies2844%—
Computer Appreciation / Introduction2337%—
Speech and Drama2235%—
Sports Studies2032%—
Small Business Management1930%—
Music performance: Group1727%—
Sports / Movement Science1625%—
A level subjects16

Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.

SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Psychology1625%23%
Mathematics1524%31%
Sociology1524%13%
Physics1321%12%
History1321%13%
Business Studies1117%13%
Fine Art1016%3%
Biology914%20%
Chemistry914%17%
Computer Science914%5%
English Language and Literature813%2%
Further Mathematics711%5%
Photography610%3%
Russian——0%
Media Studies——4%
Polish——0%
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses5
SubjectQualificationEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Social ScienceVRQ Level 31524%—
Finance / Accounting (General)VRQ Level 31016%—
Mathematical StudiesCore Maths Qualifications at Level 3———
Sports StudiesOCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3———
Health StudiesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*———
A level results8
MeasureKettering Science AcademyNorth NorthamptonshireEngland
Students at the end of 16–18 study135——
— of whom A level students631,425261,341
Average A level gradeCC+B-
Average points per A level entry28.4432.7235.00
Average grade, best 3 A levelsCC+B-
AAB or better with two facilitating subjects15%14%18%
Average grade, applied general courses———
Average grade, T levels———
Fields of knowledge, all stages12
Language & Communication64%
Green & Sustainability54%
Natural Sciences54%
Mathematics & Statistics52%
Health & Safety49%
Engineering & Manufacturing39%
Transversal Skills38%
Arts & Humanities27%
Digital & ICT Skills25%
Business & Administration14%
Social & Cultural Skills9%
Law & Public Administration8%

Ideas pupils meet most, weighted by the share of the cohort taking the subjects that teach them:

fraction 16.0percentage 11.0ratio 10.5vocabulary 9.7gradient 9.6translation 8.1power 7.7equation 7.5reflection 7.4root 7.3particle model 7.1grammar 6.8audience 6.7energy transfer 6.6evidence 6.2standard form 6.1area 6.1formulae 6.0context 5.7impact 5.5graph 5.5purpose 5.4change of state 5.4scale 5.4

Coverage counts a subject’s outcomes in proportion to the share of the cohort entered for it; Combined Science counts as two thirds of the three separate sciences. Levels follow ISCED 2011 as UNESCO maps it for the UK: Key Stage 3 is ISCED 2; GCSE and A level are both ISCED 3. Methodology: about the data.

Careers

Which jobs use what’s taught here?

12apprenticeship standards closely match the subjects pupils take

A match of what’s taught, not of entry requirements: the standards whose knowledge and skills share the most ideas with the GCSEs and A levels taken here, weighted by how many pupils take each subject.

Level 3 / Level 6 — England’s qualification levels: 3 is A level standard, 4–5 are higher apprenticeships, 6 is a bachelor’s degree.

Skills England apprenticeship standards (Open Government Licence v3.0) · ESCO occupations, © European Union, matched by sch.today · how the match works

Water industry asset maintenance technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses ratio, unit conversion, percentage from Business Studies, Computer Science, Further Mathematics and 12 more · jobs: consumer electronics repair technician, industrial electrician, electrician
ScientistLevel 6 degree apprenticeship · health and science · uses conclusion, data interpretation, sampling technique from Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics and 10 more · jobs: physicist, analytical chemist, geneticist
Process industry manufacturing technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses pressure, conservation of mass, energy change from Biology, Further Mathematics, Chemistry and 5 more · jobs: chemical engineering technician, chemical manufacturing quality technician, chemical production manager
More apprenticeships9
Geoscientist (integrated degree)Level 6 degree apprenticeship · health and science · uses data interpretation, climate change, data collection from Business Studies, Computer Science, Biology and 6 more · jobs: geologist, geological engineer, exploration geologist
Science manufacturing technician 2023Level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses unit conversion, graph, pressure from Biology, Biology, Chemistry and 3 more · jobs: pharmaceutical engineer, chemical manufacturing quality technician, pharmacy technician
Data technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · digital · uses mean, integer, outlier from Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology and 9 more · jobs: data analyst, database administrator, data scientist
Battery manufacturing technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses area, unit conversion, volume from Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry and 4 more · jobs: battery test technician
Artificial intelligence (AI) data specialistLevel 7 degree apprenticeship · digital · uses presentation, experimental design, data presentation from Business Studies, Computer Science, Mathematics and 9 more · jobs: ICT intelligent systems designer
Non-destructive technologies technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses ratio, measurement, data interpretation from Business Studies, Mathematics, Biology and 5 more
Junior visual effects - VFX artist or assistant technical director - ATDLevel 4 (higher) apprenticeship · creative and design · uses scale, data collection, data structure from Computer Science, Psychology, Art and Design and 7 more · jobs: 3D modeller, technical director, animation layout artist
Water industry network technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses standard form, unit conversion, volume from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and 3 more · jobs: sewerage network operative, product quality inspector, sewerage maintenance technician
Production assistant - screen and audioLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · creative and design · uses spelling, punctuation, grammar from English Literature, Media Studies, English and 1 more · jobs: factory hand, supply chain assistant, management assistant
Admissions

How do you get a place?

The last distance at which Kettering Science Academy offered Year 7 places is not yet on file; it comes from North Northamptonshire’s allocation statistics.

  1. 31 OctApply to North Northamptonshire in Year 6 for a Year 7 place
  2. 1 MarNational Offer Day
  3. Dec–FebYear 11: apply directly to the sixth form; most close applications in these months
North Northamptonshire

Compare with nearby schools

Stayed in education at 16 · Attainment 8 · pupils

Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.