School Chooser

DSLV E-ACT Academy

All-through · ages 3-18MixedAcademy997 pupilsSixth formNurseryDaventryWest Northamptonshire
School Chooser Score · secondary phase
22
Below
similar schools
Likely range 17 to 30
Out of 100. Better than 32% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
Primary phase: 12, well below similar schools
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, April 2022
Strong pass in English and maths25%England 46%
Attendance91.4%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families35%Far more than most schools
Places203 spare997 pupils, 1,200 places
Pupils per teacher17.2School workforce census

DSLV E-ACT Academy is a sponsored academy in Daventry for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. It has 997 pupils and room for 1,200. About 35 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 22 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 32% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Hawke Road, Southbrook, Daventry, NN11 4LJ01327 313400dslvacademy.e-act.org.ukCo-headteachers: Hannah Rowe - Primary Rebecca Waterson - Secondary executive headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 26 April 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Good
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

This inspection is more than 4 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

143 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score37.2
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths25%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths52%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.41In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 40.440.420182019: 39.139.120192022: 41.841.820222023: 39.939.920232024: 37.437.420242025: 37.237.22025
Since 2018: -3.2Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018West NorthamptonshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 1114315287109147148
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 837.237.439.941.839.140.445.446.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.41-0.30-0.41-0.44-0.24
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths25%34%33%40%29%32%43%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths52%52%61%64%53%53%65%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.083.113.223.463.103.314.034.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry11%9%2%7%3%7%42%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged29.725.329.730.130.128.6
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged39.840.444.044.743.545.4
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers23.327.323.218.818.3
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers55.953.660.551.458.4

Subjects

Results came out for 17 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Design & Technology (12% here, 50% across England), Combined Science (9% here, 36% across England), English Literature (32% here, 58% across England), Statistics (26% here, 51% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science.
LanguagesFrench14

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics142 entries · 19th of 21 in West Northamptonshire
35%England 53%
English Language142 entries · 18th of 21 in West Northamptonshire
35%England 54%
English Literature141 entries · 20th of 21 in West Northamptonshire
32%England 58%
Statistics141 entries · 7th of 8 in West Northamptonshire
26%England 51%
Combined Science119 entries · 19th of 20 in West Northamptonshire
9%England 36%
History79 entries · 20th of 20 in West Northamptonshire
29%England 52%
Geography51 entries · 16th of 21 in West Northamptonshire
35%England 51%
Business51 entries · 12th of 14 in West Northamptonshire
26%England 51%
Design & Technology43 entries · 11th of 11 in West Northamptonshire
12%England 50%
Art and Design38 entries · 11th of 19 in West Northamptonshire
50%England 58%
Social Studies26 entries · 7th of 9 in West Northamptonshire
42%England 54%
Biology23 entries · 12th of 17 in West Northamptonshire
74%England 82%
Chemistry22 entries · 14th of 18 in West Northamptonshire
68%England 81%
Physics22 entries · 10th of 18 in West Northamptonshire
77%England 82%
Physical Education21 entries · 3rd of 10 in West Northamptonshire
62%England 56%
French14 entries
64%England 60%
Drama10 entries
60%England 60%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics14211%35%59%53%2,744 of 3,211
English Language14214%35%56%54%2,862 of 3,210
English Literature1417%32%51%58%3,022 of 3,202
Statistics1416%26%49%51%316 of 375
Combined Science1192%9%27%36%3,000 of 3,084
History799%29%37%52%2,817 of 3,126
Geography5116%35%47%51%2,374 of 3,116
Business5112%26%37%51%1,585 of 1,806
Design & Technology435%12%28%50%1,416 of 1,478
Art and Design3816%50%76%58%1,837 of 2,818
Social Studies2623%42%58%54%748 of 1,043
Biology2326%74%87%82%1,874 of 2,570
Chemistry2227%68%96%81%1,992 of 2,537
Physics2227%77%82%82%1,711 of 2,546
Physical Education2114%62%81%56%635 of 1,559
French1421%64%71%60%
Drama1020%60%70%60%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

26 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1146%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level8%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score102.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score101.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 37%37%20172018: 62%62%20182019: 43%43%20192023: 49%49%20232024: 53%53%20242025: 46%46%2025
Since 2017: +9%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017West NorthamptonshireEngland
Pupils tested265137513949
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths46%53%49%43%62%37%62%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths8%0%0%0%0%4%8%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score102.0101.0101.099.0102.097.0105.8105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score101.0101.099.099.0101.0100.0104.7104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score101.0100.0101.0101.0103.0102.0104.9105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard54%69%59%49%74%37%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard58%61%57%57%72%63%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)65%61%51%53%74%69%
Reading progressReading progress score+0.1-5.1-2.5-4.0
Maths progressMaths progress score-1.1-5.2-3.4-2.0
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged44%42%40%39%55%28%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged50%59%52%48%71%46%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

26 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC-27.1 points per entry
A level progress-0.51Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better0%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished84%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students26284420420
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry27.1229.5927.6333.17
Average A level gradeC-CC-C+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS26.6731.5427.07
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects0%8%0%
A level progressA level value added-0.51-0.32
Applied general courses: points per entry33.1332.7825.9332.37
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed84%87%100%67%

A level subjects

3 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsSociology9Psychology9Geography7
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Sociology9 entries · 11% A* or A · 100% passed
44%England 49%
Psychology9 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
11%England 46%
Geography7 entries · 0% A* or A · 86% passed
29%England 51%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 5 of the 7 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
29.739.8
Gap 10.1England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
11%30%
Gap 19 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
34.939.7
Gap 4.8England 3.0

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
44%50%
Gap 6 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
58%36%
Gap 22 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
50%46%
Gap 4 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
6%8%
Gap 2 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

Plenty of spare places988 pupils for 1,613 places, 2024/25
61% full

625 places were empty (39% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 5% since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to West Northamptonshire council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll997Census January 2026
Places1,20083% full
Pupils from low-income families34%35% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English19%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support15%151 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%29 pupils with a plan
Average class size22.144 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils7%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)35%£386,150 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls501 / 496
White British pupils70%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 30.3 pupils (England 26.2); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 24.8 (England 28.2).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (50), language and communications needs (48), Autistic spectrum disorder (25), Moderate learning difficulty (25), Specific learning difficulty (20), Hearing impairment (6).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll9971,0201,0741,039974916
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals34%31%29%27%24%21%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language19%18%19%19%18%18%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support14%14%15%14%15%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%1%1%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 91.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance91.4%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school25.7%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils21.62024/25, 2 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission4.1%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence8.6%9.4%8.6%9.1%5.7%6.8%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.5%5.6%5.8%6.7%3.9%4.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence4.1%3.8%2.8%2.3%1.8%2.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence25.7%29.6%26.8%26.8%16.4%17.5%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate21.624.83.50.30.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions21100

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 87 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training86%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 80%, compared with 89% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training86%90%94%92%
Education79%76%81%85%
Apprenticeship3%7%4%2%
Work3%6%9%4%
Not in education, work or training11%6%3%7%

After sixth form

Where the 44 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training89%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 85%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training72%England 72%
Top-third universities11%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship7%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2018/19 leavers
Still in education, work or training89%94%90%
Education57%61%45%
Apprenticeship7%6%10%0%
Work25%28%35%
Not in education, work or training11%6%5%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers57.4full-time equivalent, 62 people
Pupils per teacher17.2Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers94%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants16.7full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£51,550
Teachers who left in the year10%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher7.62024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,856England £7,965. Total £7.0m
Income per pupil£8,038England £8,423. Total £8.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,904England £4,444
Money in reserve13%A healthy amount put by: £1.1m, £1,074 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£1.2mit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,856spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m33012 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate89 per 1,000 peopleabout the England average
Typical house price£300,000West Northamptonshire
Nearest bus stop210 mTovey Drive, 11 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Abbey CofE AcademyAcademy460 m184Good 202449Compare
Daventry Hill SchoolFree school980 m235Good 2022Compare
St James Infant SchoolAcademy0.7 miles199Good 202450Compare
Falconer's Hill Infant SchoolAcademy0.8 miles164Good 202439Compare
The Parker E-ACT AcademyAcademy0.8 miles1,132Report card 202615Compare
Falconer's Hill AcademyAcademy0.8 miles236Good 202218Compare
E-ACT The Grange SchoolAcademy1.2 miles336Requires improvement 20221Compare
Ashby Fields Primary SchoolAcademy1.3 miles397No overall grade 202551Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares DSLV E-ACT Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats32%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 22 is 5 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 3 · middle 27 · highest 79100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 22 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 22% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 17 to 30. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%below
-0.20
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 143 pupils
Ofsted inspection17% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 4.4 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.15
DfE progress measure; 143 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.08
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
-0.01
2024/25; 999 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
-0.03
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 143 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.04
87 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is DSLV E-ACT Academy a good school?

The figures are weak. DSLV E-ACT Academy scores 22 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 32% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 17 to 30, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is DSLV E-ACT Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated DSLV E-ACT Academy good at its last full inspection on 26 April 2022. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.

How good are DSLV E-ACT Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 25% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 37.2, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How good are DSLV E-ACT Academy's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 46% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 8% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does DSLV E-ACT Academy have?

997 pupils aged 3 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,200 places, so it is 83% full.

Is DSLV E-ACT Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 625 places were empty in 2024/25 (39% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at DSLV E-ACT Academy?

Pupils were in school 91.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 26% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at DSLV E-ACT Academy?

The average class had 22.1 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 7% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does DSLV E-ACT Academy have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C-. 3 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Hawke Road, Southbrook, Daventry, NN11 4LJ
Telephone
01327 313400
Website
dslvacademy.e-act.org.uk
Executive Headteacher
Co-headteachers: Hannah Rowe - Primary Rebecca Waterson - Secondary
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
All-through school, ages 3-18, with nursery, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
E-Act (37 schools)
Local authority
West Northamptonshire
Ward
Daventry South
Constituency
Daventry
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 July 2012 (new provision)
URN
138073 · LAESTAB 9412022 · UKPRN 10037081
Formerly
Southbrook Junior School, Danetre School, Southbrook Infant and Nursery School

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from