academy school
An academy school in England is a state-funded school which is directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local authority control. The terms of the arrangements are set out in individual Academy Funding Agreements. 80% ...
The school was founded in September 1958 as Guilsborough Secondary Modern School and was officially opened in May 1959. Many of the buildings on the site were built at that time or in the 1970s. The most recent addition, opened by Kettering MP
Phil Sawford
Philip Andrew Sawford (born 26 June 1950) is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Kettering from 1997 to 2005. A member of the Labour Party, he was Leader of Kettering Borough Council from 1991 to 1997.
Early lif ...
in September 2004, cost £1.3 million, and included a state-of-the-art
sixth form
In the education systems of Barbados, England, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepa ...
centre. Guilsborough School was a
secondary modern school
A secondary modern school () is a type of secondary school that existed throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1944 until the 1970s under the Tripartite System. Secondary modern schools accommodated the majority (70–75%) of pupil ...
until it became a day school in 1967, serving a large rural catchment. The school became a
Technology College
In the United Kingdom, a Technology College is a specialist school that specialises in design and technology, mathematics and science. Beginning in 1994, they were the first specialist schools that were not CTC colleges. In 2008, there were 598 ...
specialist school
Specialist schools, also known as specialised schools or specialized schools, are schools which specialise in a certain area or field of curriculum. In some countries, for example New Zealand, the term is used exclusively for schools specialis ...
in 1998, before converting to academy status in 2011.
A previous school, Guilsborough Grammar School, an endowed school, had existed on another site in the centre of the village since c.1688.
Achievement
The school was rated "Good" in 2008, "Outstanding" in 2011, and "Good" in 2014. The school's most recent
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted's role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training ...
report was published in December 2023, and downgraded the school from "Good" to "Requires Improvement" by His Majesty's Inspector, Paul Halcfro. The report states that, "Teachers do not always check pupils’ understanding of what they have learned. This means that they do not always address misconceptions or gaps in pupils’
knowledge. As a result, pupils do not always learn as well as they could...bullying happens and upilsoften hear homophobic language...some pupils choose to do little work in lessons..." and "Pupils said that staff are not always fair or consistent when dealing with behaviour issues.".
Diana Memorial Award
The Diana Award is an international award that honours young people who work to improve the lives of others. Named after Diana, Princess of Wales, the Diana Award was established in 1999 by a board chaired by Gordon Brown.
History
The award wa ...
, autumn 2002
*
Investor in People
An investor is a person who allocates financial capital with the expectation of a future Return on capital, return (profit) or to gain an advantage (interest). Through this allocated capital the investor usually purchases some species of pr ...
* 2004
Artsmark
Artsmark is the quality standard for culture and creativity in schools and education settings, awarded by Arts Council England. The Artsmark award provides a clear framework for teachers and education professionals to plan, develop and evaluat ...
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire ( ; abbreviated Northants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshi ...
County Council, 16 March 2005
*
Sportsmark
Sportsmark is Sport England's accreditation scheme for secondary schools. The scheme recognises a school's out of hours sports provision.
* Student Adam Gravely won the Northamptonshire News Secondary Student of the Year Award 2010
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the Sports governing body, national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby ...
, 18 March 2008, ''accessed 19 March 2008''
Ex-student
Richard Stearman
Richard James Michael Stearman (born 19 August 1987) is an English former professional footballer who is first team coach at Swansea City. He was a versatile defender, being able to play in any defensive slot although primarily a centre half or ...
plays professional football for
Sheffield United
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The club competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football. They are nicknamed "the Blades" due to Sheffield's history ...