The Ferrers SchoolHuxlow Academy
Inspection, results, pupils and attendance side by side.
Summary of the comparison
The Ferrers School and Huxlow Academy are secondary schools.
The Ferrers School scores 48 out of 100 (grade D, below average) and Huxlow Academy scores 45 out of 100 (grade D, below average). The Ferrers School is ahead on our composite score.
The Ferrers School was judged the expected standard and Huxlow Academy was judged the expected standard.
On GCSE Attainment 8, the latest published figures are 40.2 for The Ferrers School and 39.8 for Huxlow Academy.
GCSE Attainment 8 has fallen at The Ferrers School (42.8 in 2021-22, 40.2 in 2025-26) and has held broadly level at Huxlow Academy (40.1 in 2022-23, 39.8 in 2025-26).
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | RushdenThe Ferrers School | IrthlingboroughHuxlow Academy | England average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Our score | D48/100Stronger figure | D45/100 | |
| Local ranking | 16th of 20 in North Northamptonshire Stronger figure | 17th of 20 in North Northamptonshire | |
| Inspection | Ofsted: Expected | Ofsted: Good | |
| School type | Academy converter | Academy converter | |
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary | |
| Age range | 11-18 | 11-18 | |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed | |
| Pupils on roll | 937 | 783 | |
| Capacity | 1,100 | 819 | |
| Location | Rushden, NN10 8LF | Irthlingborough, NN9 5TY | |
| GCSE results | |||
| Attainment 8 | 40.2 Stronger figure | 39.8 | 46.2 |
| Grade 5+ in English & maths | 25.1% | 30.8% Stronger figure | 46.3% |
| Grade 4+ in English & maths | 57.3% Stronger figure | 49.3% | 64.8% |
| Cohort | 171 | 146 | |
| A-level results | |||
| A-level entries | 52 | 33 | |
| A-level average points | 30.0 Stronger figure | 23.8 | 35.0 |
| A-level average grade | C | D+ | |
| Best 3 A-levels points | 32.8 Stronger figure | 27.0 | 35.8 |
| AAB+ incl. facilitating subjects | 16.7% Stronger figure | 10.5% | 17.5% |
| Pupils | |||
| Pupils in the census | 940 | 819 | |
| Free school meals (ever 6) | 20.1% | 24.8% | |
| English as an additional language | 3.3% | 7.2% | |
| SEN support | 3.0% | 13.8% | |
| SEN with an EHC plan | 3.5% | 3.0% | |
| Attendance | |||
| Overall absence | 10.2% | 9.6% Stronger figure | 6.2% |
| Persistent absence | 26.1% Stronger figure | 28.2% | 15.8% |
marks the stronger figure on measures with a clear direction. Rows describing a school's intake, such as free school meals, English as an additional language and SEN, carry no marker: they describe who a school serves, not how well it serves them.
Historical trends
Each solid line is one school; the dashed line is the national average.
GCSE Attainment 8
GCSE Progress 8
A-level average points
Overall absence
Free school meal eligibility (ever 6)
Pupils on roll
Ethnicity over time
One panel per school: the largest groups across this comparison, one colour per group, on a shared scale.
The Ferrers School
Huxlow Academy
Full profiles: The Ferrers School · Huxlow Academy