Caroline Chisholm School
Wooldale Centre for Learning, Wootton Fields, Northampton, NN4 6TPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Caroline Chisholm School is an all-through school in Northampton for ages 4 to 18. It is one of the 204 schools in West Northamptonshire. It ranks 6th of 15 secondary schools in Northampton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2020.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 21 January 2020, report published 23 February 2020
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 May 2025
The school has high ambitions for all pupils. Pupils achieve well. They enjoy attending this school. The school ensures that all pupils feel valued. For example, pupils enjoy taking part in 'culture days', where they learn about the different cultures of pupils who attend the school. The school is calm and orderly. Relationships between staff and pupils are respectful. Pupils are safe and happy. They know they have supportive staff to turn to when needed. Most pupils behave well in lessons and during social times. Children in the Reception Year understand and follow clear routines. Primary-aged pupils enjoy taking part in well- organised activities at lunchtime. They socialise well together. The school provides many opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests. Pupils in the primary phase enjoy attending ballroom dancing, choir, engineering club and archery. The school also organises many extra-curricular activities for secondary-aged pupils that many enjoy attending. For example, these pupils enjoy attending the Combined Cadet Force, art club and various sports clubs. Pupils have many opportunities to develop their character and to contribute to school life. Students in the sixth form are proud to mentor younger pupils. Pupils also take on roles such as house captains, form representatives and well-being champions.
What the school should improve
- Some strategies that the school provides to staff for supporting pupils with SEND lack clarity. Sometimes, teaching is not adapted well enough to support these pupils. As a result, some pupils with SEND do not progress as well as they could. The school should ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the needs of pupils with SEND so that these pupils can access the curriculum fully. Additionally, the school should check closely that the impact of support for these pupils is effective so that they achieve well.
- Sometimes, in some subjects, learning activities do not help pupils to build their knowledge as well as they could. Additionally, gaps in some pupils' knowledge are not identified and resolved well enough. As a result, some pupils do not learn as well as they could in some subjects. The school should ensure that teachers check pupils' understanding systematically to identify and plug learning gaps. The school should also ensure that learning activities routinely support pupils in building their knowledge over time.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
61 pupils took the tests
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
275 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
165 students
Average A level grade B-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
2,049 pupils on roll, with places for 2,002
Schools near Caroline Chisholm School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton High School GDST | 0.9 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 38.5 |
| Wootton Park School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 53.6 |
| Abbeyfield School | 2 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 44.0 |
| Northampton School for Boys | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 58.2 |
| Roade Village Academy | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- CAROLINE CHISHOLM EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Chris Bishop
- Phone
- 01604344744
- Address
- Wooldale Centre for Learning, Wootton Fields, Northampton, NN4 6TP
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- URN
- 137089
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.