The Duston School

West Northamptonshire · NN5 6XA

General information All-through School · 4-18 years Who goes here 2064 pupils, 16.4% FSM

Educational attainment Ofsted report card

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 17.7% on SEN support Behaviour 6.9% absence rate Staff 8.2% turnover Financials £7,113 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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The Duston School

General Information

Address: Berrywood Road, Duston, Northampton, NN5 6XA – View on map
Phone: 01604460004
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mr Samuel Strickland
Age range: 4-18 years
Demand for places (Year 7, September 2026): 313 families put it first for 262 places – 12 for every 10 places. 76% of them were offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 12 · 2024 10 · 2025 11 · 2026 12
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 53 families put it first for 56 places – 9 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. 1 of the 56 places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 9 · 2024 10 · 2025 9 · 2026 9
Sixth form: Yes
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: None
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

2064 pupils out of 1830 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 295
% eligible for free school meals: 16.4%
Pupil mix: 5 in 10 (similar to the West Northamptonshire average)
English as an additional language: 16% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 8.2% a year (West Northamptonshire 18.7%, typical in England 15.5%) Low turnover
Where they went: about 62% moved to another school, 38% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. "Low turnover" means it's among the quarter of similar schools in England where teachers are most likely to stay.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across West Northamptonshire: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 57 (1.8 per 1,000 pupils; England 1.7)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 1
Suspensions for bullying: 97 (3.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 1.9)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 24 (0.8 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.8)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state secondary schools in West Northamptonshire, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 6.9%
Persistently absent pupils: 17.2%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 17.7%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 1.8%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Specific learning difficulty: 142 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 104 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 79 pupils
Physical disability: 29 pupils
Hearing impairment: 6 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 15 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 12 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 6 pupils
Physical disability: 3 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Ofsted report card March 2026

Ofsted's new report cards grade each part of school life separately, instead of giving one overall word.

Safeguarding Met
Inclusion Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching Strong standard
Achievement Strong standard
Attendance and behaviour Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing Strong standard
Early years Strong standard
Sixth form (post-16) Strong standard
Leadership and governance Strong standard

Before this, under the old system, Ofsted rated the school Good (2021). The report card above replaces that grade.

How Ofsted report cards work

Since November 2025, Ofsted grades each area of a school on its own five-point scale, and no longer gives a single word like “Good” or “Outstanding”. Safeguarding (keeping children safe) is simply met or not met.

Exceptional The very best practice nationally
Strong standard Above what Ofsted expects
Expected standard What Ofsted expects of every school
Needs attention Some weaknesses the school needs to fix
Urgent improvement Serious weaknesses needing urgent action

“Expected standard” is a sound result – it's what Ofsted expects a good school to do. Report cards aren't directly comparable with the old single grades, which is why we don't turn them into one.

SecondaryGCSE results, Year 11

Attainment 8 score: 50.0
Compared with the area: 4.3 points above the West Northamptonshire average (45.7)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: As expected (+1.6 points against an expected 48.4)
Grade 4+ in English and maths: 72% (West Northamptonshire 66%, England 65%) Broadly steady
Data year: 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

GCSE results over time

This schoolWest Northamptonshire averageEngland↗ Improving Up 3.5 points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 4.3 points above the West Northamptonshire average (45.7).

About the Attainment 8 score

Attainment 8 measures a pupil's average result across 8 GCSE-equivalent qualifications (English and maths count double). It shows how pupils performed, not how much progress they made getting there - a school with a higher score doesn't necessarily add more value, since pupils often arrive with different starting points. Progress 8 is the measure designed to account for that, but it currently can't be calculated for any school for the two most recent academic years, due to a nationwide gap in the data caused by COVID-19 disruption to Key Stage 2 testing.

8th of 22 all-through schools in West Northamptonshire for Attainment 8

#6Caroline Chisholm School50.4
#7Chenderit School50.0
#8The Duston School50.0
#9Guilsborough Academy46.6
#10Campion School46.2

Click to see the full ranking

Attainment 8 ranking

Illustrative MVP scores - not based on verified data yet.

Rank School Score

#1Northampton School for Boys58.2
#2Northampton School for Girls54.9
#3Wootton Park School53.6
#4Northampton Academy52.1
#5Sponne School52.0
#6Caroline Chisholm School50.4
#7Chenderit School50.0
#8The Duston School50.0
#9Guilsborough Academy46.6
#10Campion School46.2
#11Moulton School and Science College46.1
#12Elizabeth Woodville School44.9
#13Magdalen College School44.2
#14Abbeyfield School44.0
#15Weston Favell Academy41.8
#16Malcolm Arnold Academy41.4
#17Kingsthorpe College39.6
#18The Parker E-ACT Academy38.9
#19St Thomas Becket Catholic School38.7
#20DSLV E-ACT Academy37.2
#21Northampton International Academy36.4
#22Silverstone UTC31.1

Leaver Destinations

In education, employment, or training a year later: 92.0%
Went into further education: 85.0%
Data year: 2024/25

About leaver destinations

This shows where a school's Year 11 leavers were recorded the following year - in a "sustained" destination means in education, an apprenticeship, or employment for at least 6 months, not just enrolled briefly. It's a different picture from exam results alone, and can highlight schools that support pupils well beyond just their GCSE grades.

GCSE Subjects Offered

Science Double Award
Maths (General)
English Literature
English Language
Statistics
History
Geography
Spanish
French Language
Business Studies
Computer Science
Psychology (General)
Art & Design
Media Studies
Polish
D & T
Speech & Drama
Russian
Sociology
Music Studies (General)
Bengali
Turkish
Arabic
Chinese
Greek
Punjabi
Italian
Japanese Language

About this subject list

This isn't the school's own description of its curriculum - it's real DfE exam entry data, showing which GCSE subjects this school's pupils were actually entered for in 2024/25. A subject not appearing here may still be taught but had no pupils entered that year, so treat this as a helpful guide rather than a complete guarantee - it's worth confirming directly with the school for the year your child would actually study.

PrimaryYear 6 SATs results

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 72% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 7% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 9 percentage points above the West Northamptonshire average (63%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: As expected (3-year average 68% against an expected 70%)
3-year average (expected standard): 68%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 82% · Writing 77% · Maths 82% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 85%
Average test scores: reading 107, maths 105
Based on: 60 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolWest Northamptonshire averageEngland↗ Improving Up 10 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 9 percentage points above the West Northamptonshire average (63%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 38th of 139 junior and primary schools in the area

=38St Luke's Church of England Primary School72%
=38The Abbey Primary School72%
=38The Duston School72%
=42Kings Heath Primary Academy71%
=42Pitsford Primary School71%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1Hartwell Primary School96%
#2Hackleton CofE Primary School94%
#3John Hellins Primary School93%
#4The Bramptons Primary School92%
#5Helmdon Primary School89%
=6Parklands Primary School87%
=6Pineham Barns Primary School87%
=6Yardley Hastings Primary School87%
#9West Haddon Endowed Church of England Primary School86%
=10Abington Vale Primary School83%
=10Silverstone Church of England Primary School83%
=10The Arbours Primary Academy83%
=13Eastfield Academy82%
=13The Bliss Charity School82%
#15Preston Hedges Primary School81%
=16Blisworth Community Primary School80%
=16Welton Church of England Academy80%
=16Weston Favell CofE Primary School80%
=19Blakesley Church of England Primary School79%
=19Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School79%
=21Brington Primary School78%
=21Greatworth Primary School78%
#23Duston Eldean Primary School77%
=24Brixworth CofE VC Primary School76%
=24Wootton Park School76%
#26Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School75%
=27Kislingbury Primary School74%
=27Long Buckby Junior School74%
=27Walgrave Primary School74%
=30Ashby Fields Primary School73%
=30Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery73%
=30Bridgewater Primary School73%
=30Cedar Road Primary School73%
=30East Haddon Church of England Primary School73%
=30Flore Church of England Primary School73%
=30Guilsborough Church of England Primary School73%
=30Staverton Church of England Voluntary Primary School73%
=38Caroline Chisholm School72%
=38St Luke's Church of England Primary School72%
=38The Abbey Primary School72%
=38The Duston School72%
=42Kings Heath Primary Academy71%
=42Pitsford Primary School71%
=42Towcester Church of England Primary School71%
=45Ecton Brook Primary School70%
=45Lumbertubs Primary School70%
=45Roade Primary School70%
=45Tiffield Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School70%
=45Woodland View Primary School70%
=50Castle Academy69%
=50Clipston Endowed Voluntary Controlled Primary School69%
=50St James Church of England Primary School69%
=53Blackthorn Primary School68%
=53Harpole Primary School68%
=53Thorplands Primary School68%
=53Wootton Primary School68%
=57Barby Church of England Primary School67%
=57Byfield School67%
=57Cogenhoe Primary School67%
=57Maidwell Primary School67%
=57Simon de Senlis Primary School67%
=62Moulton Primary School66%
=62Queen Eleanor Primary Academy66%
=62Standens Barn Primary School66%
=65Croughton All Saints CofE Primary School64%
=65Greens Norton Church of England Primary School64%
=65Old Stratford Primary School64%
=68Bracken Leas Primary School63%
=68East Hunsbury Primary School63%
=68Gayton Church of England Primary School63%
=68Overstone Primary School63%
=68St Gregory's Catholic Primary School63%
=68Welford Sibbertoft and Sulby Endowed School63%
=74Collingtree Church of England Primary School62%
=74Spring Lane Primary School62%
=74Whitehills Primary School62%
=74Woodford Halse Church of England Primary Academy62%
=78Middleton Cheney Primary Academy61%
=78Millway Primary School61%
=80Headlands Primary School60%
=80Spratton Church of England Primary School60%
=80St Andrew's Ceva Primary School60%
#83Vernon Terrace Primary School59%
=84Barry Primary School58%
=84Hopping Hill Primary School58%
=84Stimpson Avenue Academy58%
=84The Radstone Primary School58%
=84Yelvertoft Primary School58%
=89Badby School57%
=89Boughton Primary School57%
=89Deanshanger Primary School57%
=89Kings Sutton Primary Academy57%
=89The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School57%
=89Upton Meadows Primary School57%
=95Abbey CofE Academy56%
=95Bugbrooke Community Primary School56%
=95Earl Spencer Primary School56%
=95Hardingstone Academy56%
=95Little Houghton Church of England Primary56%
=100Harlestone Primary School55%
=100Newnham Primary School55%
=102Boothville Primary School54%
=102Denton Primary School54%
=102Falconer's Hill Academy54%
=102Kilsby Church of England Primary School54%
=106All Saints CofE VA Primary School53%
=106Brackley Church of England Junior School53%
=106Green Oaks Primary Academy53%
=106Kingsthorpe Village Primary School53%
=106Sunnyside Primary Academy53%
=106Yardley Gobion Church of England Primary School53%
#112St Mary's Catholic Primary School52%
=113Kingsley Primary School51%
=113Lings Primary School51%
=113Northampton International Academy51%
=113Woodvale Primary Academy51%
=117Rothersthorpe Church of England Primary School50%
=117Stoke Bruerne Church of England Primary School50%
=119Chiltern Primary School49%
=119Delapre Primary School49%
#121Braunston Church of England Primary School47%
#122DSLV E-ACT Academy46%
=123Lyncrest Primary School45%
=123Rectory Farm Primary School45%
#125Cosgrove Village Primary School44%
#126Ashton CofE Primary School43%
#127Kingsthorpe Grove Primary School42%
#128Crick Primary School39%
#129Pattishall Church of England Primary School38%
=130Chipping Warden Primary Academy33%
=130Culworth Church of England Primary Academy33%
=130E-ACT The Grange School33%
=130Paulerspury Church of England Primary School33%
=130Syresham St James CofE Primary School and Nursery33%
#135Weedon Bec Primary School30%
=136Milton Parochial Primary School29%
=136St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Aston-le-Walls29%
#138Newbottle and Charlton Church of England Primary School9%
#139Chacombe CEVA Primary Academy8%

View full Ofsted inspection report

Financials

Spending per pupil: £7,113 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

12th of 23 all-through schools in West Northamptonshire for spending per pupil

#10Guilsborough Academy£7,222
#11Caroline Chisholm School£7,193
#12The Duston School£7,113
#13Magdalen College School£7,075
#14Kingsthorpe College£6,989

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Silverstone UTC£8,417
#2Abbeyfield School£8,054
#3Northampton School for Boys£8,002
#4Northampton School for Girls£7,911
#5Elizabeth Woodville School£7,781
#6Northampton Academy£7,760
#7Northampton School£7,617
#8St Thomas Becket Catholic School£7,518
#9Weston Favell Academy£7,388
#10Guilsborough Academy£7,222
#11Caroline Chisholm School£7,193
#12The Duston School£7,113
#13Magdalen College School£7,075
#14Kingsthorpe College£6,989
#15Northampton International Academy£6,926
#16Campion School£6,907
#17DSLV E-ACT Academy£6,856
#18The Parker E-ACT Academy£6,713
#19Chenderit School£6,671
#20Malcolm Arnold Academy£6,650
#21Sponne School£6,638
#22Wootton Park School£6,601
#23Moulton School and Science College£6,576

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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General Information

Who goes here

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Behaviour

Across West Northamptonshire: suspensions by reason

Attendance

SEN

Most common needs - SEN Support

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Educational Attainment

Attainment 8 ranking

Leaver Destinations ?

GCSE Subjects Offered ?

Year 6 SATs ranking

Financials

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Leaver Destinations

GCSE Subjects Offered