Kettering Buccleuch Academy
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Kettering Buccleuch Academy is a sponsored academy in Kettering for boys and girls aged 4 to 18. It has 1,808 pupils and room for 1,820. About 26 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 64 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 59% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in February 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.
Weekley Glebe Road, Kettering, NN16 9NS01536 515644kba.ukMiss Chloe Buckenham principalAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted visited on 10 February 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.
Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 19 October 2021 | Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 | Good |
Results
GCSE results, summer 2025
240 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.
All GCSE measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | North Northamptonshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of Year 11 | 240 | 235 | 234 | 236 | 194 | 207 | – | – |
| Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8 | 48.3 | 50.7 | 53.0 | 53.7 | 48.4 | 43.5 | 44.0 | 46.8 |
| Progress from age 11Progress 8 | – | +0.52 | +0.58 | +0.83 | +0.60 | +0.11 | – | – |
| Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths | 45% | 51% | 53% | 58% | 43% | 35% | 39% | 46% |
| Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths | 64% | 65% | 77% | 75% | 66% | 56% | 60% | 66% |
| Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score | 4.57 | 4.80 | 4.91 | 4.96 | 4.24 | 3.74 | 3.91 | 4.15 |
| Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry | 68% | 66% | 68% | 67% | 41% | 28% | 38% | 41% |
| Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged | 34.8 | 38.6 | 43.2 | 39.2 | 39.6 | 36.7 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged | 52.9 | 54.1 | 55.3 | 57.0 | 52.7 | 47.0 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers | – | 32.8 | 33.1 | 38.3 | 28.3 | 29.4 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers | – | 71.8 | 70.9 | 78.0 | 63.6 | 59.1 | – | – |
Subjects
Results came out for 20 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.
Strongest subjects
Subjects that did worse than the England average: Drama (24% here, 60% across England), Computer Science (24% here, 56% across England), German (41% here, 63% across England), English Language (45% here, 54% across England).
The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.
Every subject against England, 2025
| Subject | Entries | Grades 9 to 7 | Grades 9 to 5 | Grades 9 to 4 | England 9 to 5 | Rank in England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 238 | 19% | 58% | 71% | 53% | 1,091 of 3,211 |
| English Language | 237 | 17% | 45% | 69% | 54% | 2,193 of 3,210 |
| English Literature | 233 | 16% | 53% | 68% | 58% | 1,829 of 3,202 |
| Combined Science | 212 | 22% | 58% | 70% | 36% | 303 of 3,084 |
| Geography | 123 | 25% | 56% | 67% | 51% | 1,014 of 3,116 |
| History | 104 | 36% | 58% | 64% | 52% | 1,063 of 3,126 |
| Spanish | 101 | 22% | 48% | 61% | 54% | 1,237 of 1,941 |
| Art and Design | 65 | 28% | 65% | 88% | 58% | 1,130 of 2,818 |
| Physical Education | 46 | 52% | 80% | 91% | 56% | 252 of 1,559 |
| French | 43 | 21% | 70% | 77% | 60% | 727 of 1,974 |
| Drama | 33 | 9% | 24% | 39% | 60% | 794 of 844 |
| Computer Science | 33 | 3% | 24% | 36% | 56% | 1,695 of 1,861 |
| Economics | 32 | 25% | 66% | 78% | 70% | 79 of 142 |
| Social Studies | 27 | 22% | 52% | 67% | 54% | 564 of 1,043 |
| German | 22 | 9% | 41% | 68% | 63% | 482 of 571 |
| Biology | 22 | 59% | 86% | 96% | 82% | 1,327 of 2,570 |
| Physics | 20 | 65% | 95% | 100% | 82% | 790 of 2,546 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 65% | 95% | 100% | 81% | 802 of 2,537 |
| Religious Studies | 13 | 31% | 77% | 77% | 60% | – |
| Other Modern Languages | 9 | 78% | 89% | 89% | 49% | – |
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
60 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | North Northamptonshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 60 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 59 | 60 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 67% | 57% | 55% | 49% | 35% | 61% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 2% | 0% | 8% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 105.0 | 105.0 | 103.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 99.0 | 104.6 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 102.0 | 103.0 | 104.0 | 102.0 | 99.0 | 99.0 | 103.9 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 102.0 | 101.0 | 102.0 | 103.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 104.1 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 75% | 82% | 72% | 68% | 63% | 50% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 73% | 73% | 77% | 66% | 58% | 53% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 70% | 70% | 67% | 71% | 71% | 72% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -0.7 | -1.0 | -2.7 | -4.2 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +0.9 | -0.3 | -4.3 | -3.8 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 48% | 50% | 46% | 48% | 40% | 28% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 76% | 79% | 66% | 61% | 59% | 40% | – | – |
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
142 students finished sixth-form courses.
All sixth-form measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 142 | 128 | 131 | 122 | 177 | 139 |
| Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry | 34.79 | 37.71 | 37.35 | 36.83 | 31.59 | 30.42 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | B- | B- | B- | C | C |
| Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS | 35.52 | 38.05 | 38.03 | 37.34 | 33.22 | 31.11 |
| AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects | 9% | 20% | 15% | 20% | 14% | 7% |
| A level progressA level value added | -0.16 | +0.14 | – | – | +0.34 | +0.32 |
| Applied general courses: points per entry | 34.85 | 31.44 | 33.25 | 36.04 | – | – |
| T levels: points per entry | 31.90 | 34.76 | 30.00 | 40.00 | – | – |
| Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed | 87% | 89% | 97% | 96% | 87% | 89% |
A level subjects
20 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.
Strongest A levels
Every A level subject against England, 2025
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. 2 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
At the end of primary school, 2025
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. As a Christian school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
About 130 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same 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 North Northamptonshire council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
What parents say
From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 141 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for secondary schools with enough answers to publish.
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.
Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 1872 pupils, for pupils with special educational needs.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 29.2 pupils (England 26.2); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 29.8 (England 28.2).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (118), Specific learning difficulty (77), Moderate learning difficulty (49), language and communications needs (30), Autistic spectrum disorder (23), Profound and multiple learning difficulty (7).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 1,808 | 1,851 | 1,869 | 1,858 | 1,851 | 1,806 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 24% | 24% | 22% | 22% | 20% | 19% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 18% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 13% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 18% | 16% | 15% | 16% | 12% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 3% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 92.9% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 7.1% | 7.5% | 7.0% | 8.6% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 2.6% | 3.3% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 2.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 3.9% | 2.0% | 1.8% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 17.8% | 19.1% | 20.2% | 28.3% | 11.8% | 10.4% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 16.6 | 10.8 | 4.7 | 7.4 | 4.3 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | – | – |
What pupils do next
After GCSEs
Where the 234 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 71%, compared with 93% for everyone else.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 88% | 90% | 89% | 91% |
| Education | 83% | 81% | 81% | 84% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Work | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Not in education, work or training | 9% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
After sixth form
Where the 129 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 93%, compared with 90% for everyone else.
Where the ones heading for university went
Among students from low-income families, 69% went on to degree-level study or training and 31% to a top-third university.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 91% | 90% | 86% | – |
| Education | 67% | 62% | 54% | – |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 7% | 10% | 0% |
| Work | 18% | 21% | 22% | – |
| Not in education, work or training | 5% | 9% | 12% | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
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.
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
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.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Tree Nursery School | Local authority nursery school | 590 m | 128 | Good 2024 | – | Compare |
| Grange Primary Academy | Academy | 770 m | 229 | Not inspected | 14 | Compare |
| Kettering Park Infant Academy | Academy | 800 m | 220 | Good 2024 | 29 | Compare |
| Kettering Park Junior Academy | Academy | 850 m | 347 | Good 2024 | 45 | Compare |
| Brambleside Primary School | Academy | 940 m | 416 | Report card 2026 | 90 | Compare |
| St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | Academy | 0.7 miles | 257 | No overall grade 2025 | 73 | Compare |
| Youth Works Community College | Independent | 0.8 miles | 4 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary School | Academy | 0.8 miles | 348 | Good 2023 | 56 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Kettering Buccleuch Academy with the 49 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 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 49 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Kettering Buccleuch Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Christopher Hatton Academy | Academy | 7.1 miles | 1,440 | Good 2022 | 70 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 64 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 64% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 54 to 71. 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 at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 20% | in line | +0.04 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 240 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | -0.05 | Ofsted report card, 0.6 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | above | +0.17 | DfE progress measure; 240 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | below | -0.05 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.05 | 2024/25; 1,600 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | above | +0.08 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 240 pupils |
| What pupils do next | 5% | below | -0.03 | 234 pupils |
| What parents say | 5% | below | -0.02 | Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 141 responses |
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 Kettering Buccleuch Academy a good school?
It is about average. Kettering Buccleuch Academy scores 64 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 59% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 54 to 71, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Kettering Buccleuch Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 10 February 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as as expected, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as as expected.
How good are Kettering Buccleuch Academy's GCSE results?
In summer 2025, 45% 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 48.3, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.
How good are Kettering Buccleuch Academy's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 65% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Kettering Buccleuch Academy have?
1,808 pupils aged 4 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,820 places, so it is 99% full.
Is Kettering Buccleuch Academy oversubscribed?
Probably not. 130 places were empty in 2024/25 (7% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Kettering Buccleuch Academy?
Pupils were in school 92.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 18% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
What do parents say about Kettering Buccleuch Academy?
72% of the 141 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 73% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.
How big are the classes at Kettering Buccleuch Academy?
The average class had 25.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 25% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does Kettering Buccleuch Academy have a sixth form?
Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C+. 20 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
- Weekley Glebe Road, Kettering, NN16 9NS
- Telephone
- 01536 515644
- Website
- www.kba.uk
- Principal
- Miss Chloe Buckenham
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
- Phase
- All-through school, ages 4-18, with sixth form
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Christian
- Multi-academy trust
- United Learning Trust (98 schools)
- Local authority
- North Northamptonshire
- Ward
- Avondale Grange
- Constituency
- Kettering
- Setting
- Urban: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 September 2009 (new provision)
- URN
- 135966 · LAESTAB 9406908 · UKPRN 10028091
- Formerly
- Avondale Junior School, Avondale Infant School, Montagu School
Recent changes
- New KS4 results for 2024/25
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- GCSE results: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25 final.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- A level subjects: DfE A level and other 16 to 18 results, subject entries and grades, 2024/25.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.