Bishop Stopford School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,454 pupils
96% stayed in education · Attainment 8 58.7
Academy sponsor led
Rushden Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 961of 1,295 places
- Free school meals
- 24.9%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 151
- Ofsted
- Good, 13 September 2022Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Rushden Community College (URN 139013, until 1 May 2018).
What the data says
Of the 133 pupils who finished Year 11 at Rushden Academy in 2023, 39% stayed on in Rushden Academy’s own sixth form (North Northamptonshire average 40%), 42% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 58 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 34% went to university (North Northamptonshire 57%, England 37%), and 7% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Sociology is unusually popular at GCSE: 22% of the year group took it, against 4% of pupils across England.
A level grades average D+, well below the England average of B-; 7% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Sociology and Mathematics.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in North Northamptonshire and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Rushden Academy | North Northamptonshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 133 | 3,979 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 89% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 82% | 86% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 39% | 40% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | — | 13% |
| — further education college | 42% | 44% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 5% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Rushden Academy | North Northamptonshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 58 | 1,635 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 83% | 90% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 34% | 57% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 7% | 21% | 19% |
| Further education | 0% | 1% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 5% | 7% |
| Employment | 40% | 26% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 16% | 8% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Rushden Academy | North Northamptonshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 41.6 | 42.9 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 27% | 38% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 57% | 59% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 14% | 37% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.39 | 3.82 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 23% | 23% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 36.8 | 31.5 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 43.0 | 46.3 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 13% | 17% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 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.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Literature | 150 | 99% | 86% | 6% | 21% | 68% |
| Mathematics | 150 | 99% | 88% | 10% | 22% | 63% |
| English Language | 150 | 99% | 89% | 2% | 20% | 62% |
| Combined Science | 139 | 92% | 65% | 1% | 9% | 52% |
| Business Studies | 68 | 45% | 18% | 4% | 20% | 53% |
| History | 67 | 44% | 41% | 6% | 26% | 52% |
| Geography | 54 | 36% | 41% | 0% | 25% | 43% |
| Sociology | 33 | 22% | 4% | 3% | 21% | 33% |
| Statistics | 32 | 21% | 5% | 9% | 20% | 97% |
| French | 29 | 19% | 18% | 10% | 29% | 83% |
| German | 24 | 16% | 5% | 21% | 33% | 92% |
| Fine Art | 24 | 16% | 9% | 21% | 28% | 92% |
| Photography | 23 | 15% | 6% | 22% | 19% | 100% |
| Graphic Communication | 22 | 15% | 1% | 27% | 23% | 91% |
| Physics | 10 | 7% | 23% | 20% | 46% | 100% |
| Biology | 10 | 7% | 23% | 0% | 45% | 100% |
| Chemistry | 10 | 7% | 23% | 20% | 47% | 100% |
| Russian | 1 | 1% | 0% | — | 87% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 1% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
| 3D Design | 1 | 1% | 2% | — | 16% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Studies | 51 | 100% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 33 | 70% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 27 | 57% | — |
| Health Studies | 23 | 49% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 21 | 45% | — |
| Dance: General | 19 | 40% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 17 | 36% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Rushden Academy | North Northamptonshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 114 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 47 | 1,425 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | D+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 23.88 | 32.72 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C- | C+ | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 7% | 14% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 18 | 38% | 23% |
| Sociology | 14 | 30% | 13% |
| Mathematics | 12 | 26% | 31% |
| Product Design | 10 | 21% | 2% |
| Photography | 9 | 19% | 3% |
| Physics | 8 | 17% | 12% |
| Biology | 7 | 15% | 20% |
| Business Studies | 7 | 15% | 13% |
| History | — | — | 13% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Chemistry | — | — | 17% |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | 2% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 9 | 19% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 7 | 15% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 7 | 15% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 7 | 15% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 13% | — |
| Childcare Skills | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 13% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Speech and Drama | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | — | — | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in North Northamptonshire
Brooke Weston Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,154 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.5
Corby Business Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,188 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 39.0
Corby Technical School
Free schools · sixth form · 952 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.8
Huxlow Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 783 pupils
82% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.9
Kettering Buccleuch Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,808 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.3
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.